BBBirds Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 My mother spotted this bird in her yard yesterday (July 29) and thought it looked different from other birds she's seen before. From the photo, I think it looks like one of the Rock Pigeons that often visits her feeders, just a little skinnier and from the photo seems taller (could be how it's sitting on the post -- they don't often do that, they're typically going from a neighbor's roof to my mom's roof to the ground). This was in Southeastern Pennsylvania -- Lower Makefield in Bucks County. (In a suburban housing development.) Your help identifying it -- and any thoughts on whether it looks ill or if it's okay -- appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Feral Rock Pigeon. @Pigeon could give more insight on breed and such. Looks fine health-wise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Yes, Rock Pigeon of a domestic variety. I think it's okay. @Pigeon Edit: Sniped by @Seanbirds! I think we posted at the exact same time. Edited July 30, 2021 by Quiscalus quiscula 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 2 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: Edit: Sniped by @Seanbirds! I think we posted at the exact same time. That we did. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBirds Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 Thank you @Seanbirds and @Quiscalus quiscula! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 It's a feral pigeon. I hope your mother wasn't affected by the tornadic storms that went through Bucks County yesterday. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBirds Posted July 31, 2021 Author Share Posted July 31, 2021 @PeromyscusThank you for the ID and the weather support. ? Luckily we were okay with the storms. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 Appears to be a ash red domestic cross breed . Possibly between Pouter/Cropper and an unknown variety. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBirds Posted July 31, 2021 Author Share Posted July 31, 2021 20 hours ago, Pigeon said: Appears to be a ash red domestic cross breed . Possibly between Pouter/Cropper and an unknown variety. Thank you @Pigeon! This is all very unfamiliar to me. So this is NOT a Rock Pigeon like we typically see in the yard? Would a bird like this likely be someone's bird that got out? (I'm trying to understand "feral" vs "domestic" in reference to a bird like this, and it seems that the Rock Pigeons I usually see are feral but descendants of domestic pigeons? But since you didn't say "feral" above, it sounds like maybe you were suggesting this is in fact someone's bird that might have escaped? Or perhaps I'm way off track. ? Thanks for your help and patience!) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 32 minutes ago, BBBirds said: Thank you @Pigeon! This is all very unfamiliar to me. So this is NOT a Rock Pigeon like we typically see in the yard? Would a bird like this likely be someone's bird that got out? (I'm trying to understand "feral" vs "domestic" in reference to a bird like this, and it seems that the Rock Pigeons I usually see are feral but descendants of domestic pigeons? But since you didn't say "feral" above, it sounds like maybe you were suggesting this is in fact someone's bird that might have escaped? Or perhaps I'm way off track. ? Thanks for your help and patience!) This is still a feral rock pigeon. However, Rock Pigeons have been widely domesticated in the past, and many domestic strains remain among the feral rock pigeon populations. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBirds Posted July 31, 2021 Author Share Posted July 31, 2021 11 minutes ago, Quiscalus quiscula said: This is still a feral rock pigeon. @Quiscalus quisculaGot it. Thanks. Odd that we never would've seen a bird like this before, though? Guess like I thought originally, perhaps s/he looked different because of positioning. When I've visited Mom's house, I *have* seen one with this coloring in the group of 20-30+ that show up pretty regularly. (Although I understand there could be a few different ones with that coloring/of that heritage, and it might not be THIS one.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiscalus quiscula Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 Just now, BBBirds said: @Quiscalus quisculaGot it. Thanks. Odd that we never would've seen a bird like this before, though? Guess like I thought originally, perhaps s/he looked different because of positioning. When I've visited Mom's house, I *have* seen one with this coloring in the group of 20-30+ that show up pretty regularly. (Although I understand there could be a few different ones with that coloring/of that heritage, and it might not be THIS one.) Although there are many different varieties of domestic pigeon, 'natural' is still most common, varieties like this being a little more uncommon. Pigeon morphs are extremely interesting! I'm not a specialist, but @Pigeon is. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Posted August 1, 2021 Share Posted August 1, 2021 There are upwards of 500 domestic pigeon "breeds" derived from the Rock pigeon. Some relatively normal, others bizarre. It is one of the most domesticated animals bred, in many various forms and colors. Shows held worldwide with thousands of entries. When one is seen in the wild possessing unusual structural variances, you can be assured, It is an escapee. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBirds Posted August 1, 2021 Author Share Posted August 1, 2021 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Pigeon said: When one is seen in the wild possessing unusual structural variances, you can be assured, It is an escapee. Oh no!! Is there anything to do to help reunite it with whoever might be looking for it? (Edit to add: Mom hasn't seen it again, and I'm looking at lost pet posts on FB, nothing matching this.) Edited August 1, 2021 by BBBirds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBBirds Posted August 4, 2021 Author Share Posted August 4, 2021 On 8/1/2021 at 4:04 PM, BBBirds said: Mom hasn't seen it again She HAS seen it again now -- hanging out with all the usual crew. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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