Pigeon identification

[egghead]

A local farmer has asked me to thin out some of the pigeons around his farm yard. These pigeons are white, so obviosly not woodpigeon or the common feral pigeons, they are not collared doves (or any other kind of dove) so before i shoot any, does anybody know what kind of pigeon they are and if they are protected. I only ask because i recently read in one of the shooting mags about a kind of pigeon that is protected but cannot remember what it was or where I read it. Can anybody help?
Thanks David

[mr_magoo]

maybe ornamental doves?

[billyboyp]

you've probably got a flock of white stogies so get em shot

[corkscrew]

maybe its that farmer who was on the telly in "Return to river cottage".
i think they got a roasting for using rimmies over the barn roof.

[egghead]

OK they're not doves, I'm in Cornwall not Dorset where our friend Hugh F.W. hangs out. What are white stogies?
Dave

[egghead]

come on, somebody must know
david

[mr_magoo]

wheres your blood lust, kill kiLL KILLL

[gaazzz.t]

Originally posted by mr_magoo
wheres your blood lust, kill kiLL KILLL

[shootist]

Targets.

[morose]

Its my first post but seeing as I get paid to identify birds I may be able to help you out.

The birds you describe sound like feral pigeons probably cross bred with racing pigeons and/or doves at various stages. The dove species that are protected are Turtle Dove (red listed due to decline it's a summer migrant and quite straight forward t identify) and Stock Dove (also red listed). Now stock dove is where you may get mixed up with identification as it could easily be misidentified as a feral pigeon (aka Rock Dove) but the plumage is far more consistent key id features are;
bottle green band on the back of the neck, i n flight they show black edges to the wing and two partial black bands near their back. Unlike rock doves/feral pigeons they do not have pale rumps.

Hope this helps

[bobb d]

From my experience Stock Doves are smaller than ferral pigeons and when they land they give a distinctive whistle from there wings, we have a lot of them on the shoot where I go and they are much more "switched on " than other pigeons. if in doubt DONT SHOOT you cant call a pellet back. Just go for the obvious ones, ps collard doves give a cooing sound when they land and are a dark sandy colour with a black collar.
ATB Bobb D

[Liam]

one of those white feral inbred things landed in the garden last weekend. All i heard was my girlfriend shouting, " quick Liam get the gun and shoot the ugly thing, its only got one leg!"
I have her trained well methinks.

[egghead]

Thanks to morose & bobb d for some sensible answers, much appreciated. As for the rest of you, don't try stand up comedy for a career will you.
Dave