mysterious pigeon

[trisk]

Hi. Can anyone identify a pigeon that I saw today? I know all the native species,but this was very different, as large or maybe larger than the wood pigeon, short and dumpy, usual grey head and neck with green, brown back and tops of wings. Struts(rather than waddles) a bit like a chicken (with attitude) Seen in S.E.London a.m.today. Thanks trisk.

[ron1863]

Hi trisk and a warm welcome to WAB, I don't have a clue about pigeons but someone will help shortly.

Ron

[Jason Green]

No immediate idea, but to confirm; It had a grey head with a white neck slash with an irredescent green highlight, but the body was brown, as were the wings? A grey head with a brown-ish body then? I'd tend to think just an unusual woodie... can you get a photo, at all?

OK... someone should be able to help further soon, so a warm welcome to WAB in the meantime

[Picidae]

Sounds like a feral pigeon - they come in all shapes and colours and some almost the size of Wood Pigeons.

Only other species possible is Wood Pigeon or Stock Dove (Stock Dove slightly smaller usually than feral pigeons).

[Phoebe]

Hi Trisk welcome to WAB, would be good to see a photo of this pigeon

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

Hi Trisk welcome to WAB, would be good to see a photo of this pigeon

Yes, we need to rule out a Cuckoo!

[Phoebe]

Originally Posted by Picidae

Yes, we need to rule out a Cuckoo!

I was gonna say that! lol

[trisk]

Hi. Thanks for your welcome and response. Yes it had grey head (dark) and neck with irredecent green, But no white flash.We get woodies in the garden all the time,but this was very different, shorter from nose to tail longer legs,woodies are nearly all the same colouring, unlike the feral who seem to be like allsorts, we get a few of them in London! Perhaps it was an illegal immigrant,we have got a few of them to. Can anyone recommend a good bird website, My bird books are in the loft and its bloody freezing up there!
Regards trisk

[Phoebe]

I use the RSPB website and Birdguide.com The RSPB has an identify page where you put in what you know and it guides you, worth a try

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by trisk

Hi. Thanks for your welcome and response. Yes it had grey head (dark) and neck with irredecent green, But no white flash.We get woodies in the garden all the time,but this was very different, shorter from nose to tail longer legs,woodies are nearly all the same colouring, unlike the feral who seem to be like allsorts, we get a few of them in London! Perhaps it was an illegal immigrant,we have got a few of them to. Can anyone recommend a good bird website, My bird books are in the loft and its bloody freezing up there!

A recommendation, I'll have to say... this site!! And Eureka! A browny bird the same size as a woodie but with no white slash. A juvenile woodpigeon?!