What's wrong with this bird?

2dogs2000 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 07:27 PM

This is a newcomer to my garden and I think it is a stock dove although its' beak is very red compared to other pictures I have looked at. Please confirm or correct me.

I am not sure whether it has an infection or whether it has been attacked, but it has a bald patch on its' head.

One of the resident woodpigeons objects to it being in my garden.

Adam Cheeseman · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 07:46 PM

Yes it's a Stock Dove. Guess it has just been attacked and lost a few feathers.

Cheers,

Adam

werdnal · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 07:47 PM

I agree that it looks like a stock dove. I suspect its been attacked by one of the resident woodies you saw trying to see it off. Typical of attack on a younger/weaker bird by other pigeons - they go for the top of the head (nearest the brain) for maximum injury potential. It may be a young bird, new out of the nest and still a little dependant on its parents. If it wanders up to another adult bird by mistake, they will attack it. If its getting around OK and feeding itself, it will get the idea quickly and its feathers will soon grow back.

2dogs2000 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 07:52 PM

Thank you both for your replies.

Maybe not to everyones taste but that is another new bird for my garden. Hope the woodies learn to share

RKB · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 08:01 PM

The bill is the normal colour for a Stock Dove.

Worth remembering how birds mate - it may have lost the head feathers during copulation...

actionfinch · #6 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 08:16 PM

How wierd is that , looking in my garden this morning i saw the same bird .. i thought that it might have been a juv woodpigeon because of the lack of a white stripe, a woodpigeon came down at the same time and scared it off.. my first stock dove...

2dogs2000 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by actionfinch

How wierd is that , looking in my garden this morning i saw the same bird .. i thought that it might have been a juv woodpigeon because of the lack of a white stripe, a woodpigeon came down at the same time and scared it off.. my first stock dove...

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