Diet of Wood Pigeons

Abstract

THE recently issued sixth bulletin on wood pigeon studies being organized from the British Trust for Ornithology at Oxford contains some interesting observations of agricultural importance. The examination of nearly 4,000 wood pigeon crops suggests that, contrary to the general belief of farmers, wood pigeons do not eat the 'heart' or buds of clover plants ; they eat the leaves and not the buds. Nor do they normally eat young corn but only the seed. During the mild winter of January and February 1943, wild fruits like ivy berries, haws and acorns were found in the 393 crops examined, whereas during the more normal winter of January and February 1942 (131 crops examined) the main food was shown to be cultivated clover. With the co-operation of phenologists a record is being made of the local variations in the abundance of acorn crops, because this seems to be the controlling factor for the movements of the wood pigeon flocks in Great Britain in winter. This might influence forestry work. The food habits of the smaller stock dove are shown to differ. This bird does not take the same food as the wood pigeon: it appears to be more of a ground-feeding species, living almost entirely upon cereals, weed seeds and roots. When the extra acres of woodland are scientifically managed after the War, they may attract the wood pigeon to feed there in the autumn instead of in the farm fields.