Rock Pigeon

Rock Pigeon sitting on the head of a sea monster as part of a fountain.
Rock Pigeon, Munich, Germany, July 17, 2013
Sony DSC-H3; 63 mm; ISO-125; f/10; 1/250 sec.

This page is for the Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). The first photographic evidence I have of this bird was taken on June 28, 2013 at the Sensoji Temple in the Asakusa district of Tokyo, Japan. I grew up calling this bird a Pigeon, then later in college, I learned it was called a Rock Dove. Then in 2003, following the lead of the British, the American Ornithological Society officially changed its name to Rock Pigeon. I personally like Rock Dove, but I will follow the current naming convention. This very common bird thrives near humans, and can be found all over the world (my pictures come from Germany, Japan, and the US). The best photograph I have taken of the Rock Pigeon to date (above) was from July 17, 2013 in Munich, Germany.

The following photographs are the best representative images from different dates and locations than my species representative example.

Two Rock Pigeons sitting on the roof top of a Japanese temple. The edge of the roof has some sort of demon-like face on it.
Rock Pigeon, Asakusa District, Tokyo, Japan, June 28, 2013
Sony DSC-H3; 20 mm; ISO-125; f/9; 1/160 sec.
Rock Pigeon walking among some deer.
Rock Pigeon, Nara, Japan, May 24, 2014
Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon 18-135 mm lens; 31 mm; ISO-100; f/8; 1/125 sec.
Six Rock Pigeons walking around a path.
Rock Pigeon, Toyoma, Japan, August 12, 2015
Nikon Coolpix L28; 5 mm; ISO-80; f/3.2; 1/60 sec.
A flock of about two dozen Rock Pigeons flying near a playground.
Rock Pigeon, Clear Fork of the Trinity River and Hulen St., Fort Worth, TX, December 4, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 24-70 mm lens; 31 mm; ISO-100; f/4.5; 1/4000 sec.
Two Rock Pigeons sitting on a street light.
Rock Pigeon, Cement Creek Reservoir, Fort Worth, TX, December 31, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-2000; f/14; 1/640 sec.
Rock Pigeon flying in the sky.
Rock Pigeon, Clear Fork Trinity River and Bellaire, Fort Worth, TX, April 3, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 500 mm; ISO-400; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
An almost completely white Rock Pigeon soaring over an empty parking lot
Rock Pigeon, Waikiki, Honolulu, HI, January 28, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-2500; f/10; 1/400 sec.
Rock Pigeon flying and making a turn with black volcanic rock in the background.
Rock Pigeon, Wawamalu Beach Park, Honolulu, HI, January 29, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-4000; f/11; 1/400 sec.
Rock Pigeon that is mostly white with some black on its wings walking along a footpath.
Rock Pigeon, Playa del Reducto, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Spain, July 27, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-3200; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Rock Dove flying near some buildings in the distance.
Rock Dove, Trayecto Ferry Lanzarote terminus, Canarias, Spain, July 29, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-2000; f/11; 1/1000 sec. +0.7 Exposure bias.
Rock Pigeon perched on a large rock in the middle of a field.
Rock Pigeon, Arona, Tenerife, Canarias, Spain, August 3, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-2000; f/10; 1/800 sec. -0.3 exposure bias
Rock Pigeon, Oak Point Park, Plano, TX, January 21, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Rock Pigeon perched on some very small branches in a tree.
Rock Pigeon, Villa Borghese, Rome, Italy, October 2, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 167 mm; ISO-640; f/5; 1/500 sec.
Rock Pigeon perched on a decorative ledge of a building.
Rock Pigeon, Prague, Czechia, October 7, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 500 mm; ISO-800; f/7.1; 1/800 sec.
Rock Pigeon about to land.
Rock Pigeon, Oak Grove Park, Grapevine, TX, July 27, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-800; f/10; 1/800 sec.