Wood Pigeons Columba palumbis
Portland Bird Observatory, Dorset, UK. April 2008

The UK’s largest and commonest pigeon, the Wood Pigeon Columba palumbis is basically grey with a white neck patch and white wing patches which are clearly visible in flight. Although shy in the countryside (where it is commonly shot as a pest of crops) it can be tame and approachable in towns and cities, and has recently become a much more frequent - and bold - visitor to gardens. Its five-note cooing call - which can be transcribed as “coo-cooo coo cuk-cuk” - is a familiar sound throughout the UK, as is the loud diagnostic clatter of its wings when it flies away.