FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
The stock dove, known by the scientific name Columba Oenas, is a species of bird found mostly in the western Palearctic. They are a part of the family of Columbidae which includes doves and pigeons. The bird species resembles a lot with the wood pigeon but does not have the white neck and white patches on the wings. Wood pigeons are also larger and more common than the stock dove. The stock dove is too dependent on its habitat. The feral pigeon however is smaller than the stock dove. The feral pigeon is the same as the rock dove.
The bird species have many regional names such as blue rock, wood dove, cushat, sand pigeon, and stogie. They are very friendly birds known to stay near other bird species too. They are found near wood pigeons and feral pigeons. They are known to nest in the cavities of the trees. Due to deforestation, these trees are being cut down everywhere in the world. The birds however have learned to let go of their homes in the trees and their nests have been seen in burrows and cracks in cliff edges.
Doves and pigeons form the group called Columbidae which houses the birds we are discussing, and there are 344 species associated with them. Read about the dove and the pigeon only on the Kidadl website.
The stock doves are a species of birds found mostly in the western Palearctic.
The birds of the genus Columba fall under the class of Aves in the Animalia kingdom.
The total population of the bird is not known. The UK has around 300,00 pairs of birds. There are at least 2 million breeding pairs in the world.
These doves are found in abundance in the UK, but the distribution is lower in parts of Northern Ireland and northern Scotland. They are also absent in highland areas of Wales.
Stock doves are sometimes found nesting in rabbit warrens when they have no hollow trees left to nest in.
These birds are commonly found in woodland edges and parklands during the breeding season. In winter, they can also be seen in flocks on farmland. The flocks are usually small. The birds prefer undisturbed sites unlike the wood pigeon and are often seen feeding in arable farmland.
During their autumn migration in October, the doves are seen having a range of food at their disposals like acorns, shoots, and leaves. Their food habits do include insects, but it has been seen that the bird would rather eat human leftovers than insects in the wild. However, the flocks of the urban population are seen feeding on different types of insects.
The dove forms small groups to feed on arable farmland and are often seen with large Wood Pigeon flocks. During breeding, they are found in pairs.
Flocks are usually formed of not more than 50 individuals.
The average lifespan of the stock dove (Columba oenas) is three years.
The breeding season of the species starts in late February and ends after summer. Simple nests are made where the females lay two glossy white eggs. The incubation period is 16-18 days. There is a possibility of up to four broods. The chicks fledge 25-30 days after hatching.
They are one of the scarcest breeds of doves and need trees to nest. Due to deforestation and general habitat degradation, they have no place to go, and hence, the population has been decreasing in the wild. The species have been categorized as of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The bird has also been kept on an Amber alert in the UK.
The plumage of the stock dove is pale gray or brown and has no white marking. They have incomplete dark wing bars. The tail is colored dark-blue gray and has a broad black terminal band. The back and mantle are all colored dark-blue gray. The rump is a little pale but still gets the gray coloration. A green neck patch can be seen in the blue-gray head. The eyes are also dark. The breast is colored gray and has a pink coloration to it. The belly is a pale gray. The folded wing is colored blue-gray and has dark, usually black feathers. In-flight, the bird looks gray from below and has dark primaries. They are seen with a dark trailing edge on the wings and with a dark tail. Both sexes look the same and their legs are dark pink in color.
Juveniles do not have a green neck patch. Otherwise, they have the same plumage as the adults.
The plumage of the stock dove is similar to the feral pigeons/rock doves. Their size is also quite similar to the feral pigeon and the wood pigeon.
They are considered cute with dark eyes and a grayish body.
The song of the bird is low and mournful. The song sounds like 'whooo-hu whooo-hu whooo-hu'. The tone is quite pure.
The feral pigeon/rock dove is not loud, unlike the stock dove. Feral pigeons have a rolling quality in their song which is lacking in the rock dove's song. The pigeon's wings also create a whistling sound.
Their length ranges from 12.6-13.4 in (32-34 cm). They have a wingspan ranging from 24.8-27.1 in (63-69 cm). The wingspan of the feral pigeon is almost similar at 24.8-27.5 in (63-70 cm).
Their speed is not known. The birds are sedentary and rarely move. They are seen very seldom in flight.
The weight of stock doves ranges from 0.55-0.77 lb (250-350 g).
Males and females are not given different names.
The babies are called chicks.
Stock doves are also seen feeding on insects like ants and worms. They even eat snails occasionally. However, the main food of the stock doves includes young shoots of plants, grains, and different kinds of seeds. Depending on a different population, they are sometimes seen feeding on pine seeds and acorns too. Other food items that they are normally seen feeding on are bay and hawthorn, figs, cereal grains, beans, peas, and small invertebrates.
They are not dangerous.
Due to their restricted habitat, they are not considered pets.
The name stock dove is given to the bird species because of the English word 'stocc' which means a tree trunk. The rough meaning of the name is 'the birds that nest in the tree hollows of the wild'.
The males of the species have distinctive display flight. It is shown by slow and deep wing beats. The wings clap over the dove's back.
They are common in the UK.
The distribution of the stock doves in the UK is all throughout the year. This species is not migratory and rarely moves far from its wild habitat. They are not found in highland areas of Wales, Northern Ireland, and Northern Scotland. They visit local parks and woodlands in the breeding season. In winters, they are found in farmlands in search of seeds.
They are quite shy and do not visit urban gardens much. However, they do visit rural gardens and farmlands foraging for food.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds including mountain chickadee facts or Nicobar pigeon facts.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable stock dove coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.