Feral pigeon
Columba livia
- Size
- About 32cm long
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Town squares, stations, bridges and rooftops
The bird of every town centre: grey, with a shiny green and purple neck and two black bars on each wing.
The pigeon that follows you
This page is a town pavement. Move your pointer along it and your animal will strut, hop, bound or swoop after you. Choose a different animal at the bottom, and tap the notes to open them.
Macclesfield right now checking the sky…
Try another sky
01 · FamilyA wild ancestor
Town pigeons are descended from the wild rock dove, which nests on sea cliffs. Buildings make good cliffs.
02 · HomingFinding the way home
Pigeons can find their way home from hundreds of miles away, using the sun and the Earth's magnetic field.
03 · WarWar heroes
Pigeons carried messages in both World Wars, and some were given medals for bravery.
04 · HeadThe head bob
A pigeon's head is not really bobbing. It holds its head still while its body catches up, so it can see clearly.
05 · MilkPigeon milk
Both parents feed their chicks a rich, milky food made in their crop.
06 · ColoursAll sorts of colours
Because their ancestors were bred by people, town pigeons come in grey, white, brown, black and mixtures.
Meet them all
Who's who in town
House sparrow
Passer domesticus
- Size
- About 14cm long
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Gardens, hedges, streets and anywhere near buildings
A cheerful, chirping brown bird that lives alongside people. The male has a grey cap and a black bib.
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
- Size
- About 45cm long
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Cathedrals, tower blocks and power stations, as well as sea cliffs
A powerful, slate-grey falcon with a dark hood and moustache, and the fastest animal on Earth.
Grey squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
- Size
- Body about 26cm, tail nearly as long
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Parks, gardens and woods across most of Britain
The squirrel most people see: silver-grey, with a white belly and a bushy tail edged in white.
Herring gull
Larus argentatus
- Size
- About 60cm long
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Seaside towns, harbours, rooftops and rubbish tips
The big, noisy seaside gull: white, with a grey back, black wing tips, pink legs and a yellow beak.
Magpie
Pica pica
- Size
- About 45cm long, half of it tail
- Look for it
- All year round
- Where
- Gardens, parks, streets and farmland
Smart black and white, with a very long tail that shines green and blue in the sun.
Through the year
When to look for them
The green months are when you're most likely to see each one in Britain. The animal following you is shown in red.
Pigeon
House sparrow
Peregrine
Grey squirrel
Herring gull
Magpie
Wildlife on your street
Six ways to help town wildlife
Put up a sparrow box
House sparrows like to nest side by side. A box with several holes, high on a wall under the eaves, suits them well.
Put out water
A shallow dish of clean water on a windowsill, balcony or yard is used for drinking and bathing all year.
Grow something
A window box, a pot of flowers or a climber on a wall brings in insects, and insects feed the birds.
Hold on to your chips
Feeding gulls teaches them to snatch food from people. Keep food covered, and put leftovers in a bin with a lid.
Leave a few weeds
Dandelions in a pavement crack feed early bees, and their seeds feed sparrows and goldfinches.
Check the tall buildings
If your town has a cathedral or a tall tower, look for a peregrine perched near the top. Many now have a pair.
Photo gallery
Real photos of the animals on this page. Tap one to see it bigger.
Feral pigeon
House sparrow
Peregrine falcon
Grey squirrel
Herring gull
Magpie
Photos are from Wikimedia Commons and are used under free licences. Open a photo to see who took it.
Now look up
Next time you are in town, stop for a minute and look at the rooftops, the ledges and the trees. There is far more living there than most people notice.
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