Feral Pigeon

Feral Pigeon
Scientific Name 
Columba livia (forma domestica)
Arabic Name 
الحمام الدوري
Kuwaiti name 
حمام دحل , يشمل حمام المدن
Family 
Pigeons - Doves
Width 
70.0 cm
Length 
34.0 cm
Least Concern
Similar species 
Stock Dove

In Kuwait

Resident
Frequent
Common breeder

Information

Abundant resident. Hundreds nest in cities and farms; often also kept in dovecots. Domesticated descendent of the Rock Dove. Although no true wild Rock Doves have been confirmed in Kuwait, feral birds are also found away from cities or farms.
Where in Kuwait 
The scarcity of the pure wild species is partly due to interbreeding with feral birds and it is difficult to identify a true Feral Pigeon with certainty in Kuwait.
In the world 
It has an extremely large range but is suspected to be decreasing owing to interbreeding with domestic form. The Domestic Pigeon (Columba livia domestica) was derived from the Rock Pigeon. The Rock Pigeon is the world's oldest domesticated bird. Common Pigeons that are found in towns and cities are Feral Pigeons, descended from Domestic Pigeons. Pigeons have made contributions of considerable importance to humanity, especially in times of war. In war the homing ability of pigeons has been put to use by making them messengers. So-called war pigeons have carried many vital messages and some have been decorated for their services. Domestic pigeons are sometimes called "thoroughbreds of the air," while feral pigeons are sometimes called "rats with wings." A group of pigeons flying together is called a "kit"
Local threats 
Often used cruelly (damaging wing feathers, sowing eyelids shut or adding a weight to hinder free flight) by falconers to train falcons to hunt