..The Woodpigeon..
The distinctive 'cooing' call of the Woodpigeon is associated with long evenings and the arrival of summer. It is one of our commonest birds feeding on seeds and grains but also on plants, flowers and root crops. While around Corkagh we will only see them in twos and threes, in the countryside they can form large flocks and are not always welcomed by farmers.
They always seem noisy and awkward in flight and this is due in part to their body size compared to their wing size. However this can also have a positive effect in scaring off potential predators.
The male and female are almost identical but sometimes the male will be larger and have more vibrant neck colours.
Like the Collared Dove they build their flimsy nests in trees and only lay two eggs. They mate for life and are intensely loyal.
Their breeding season runs from April to October but because they have such a varied diet they can breed outside of these months. When the eggs hatch the young are fed a regurgitated liquid by their parents called Pigeon Milk.
For a week or two after fledging the young Woodpigeons have poor flight skills and remain close to the ground watched over by their parents. At this time they are very vulnerable to predation by Sparrowhawks and Buzzards. Once they have matured enough to make it on their own they will join other young woodpigeons from their area and shelter in the safety of woodland.
