Seasonal variation in the diet and food preference of the Woodpigeon Columba palumbus in Ireland

Abstract

Capsule The Woodpigeon Columba palumbus has a wide and varied diet, dominated by vegetable matter. This study found no significant difference in the diet of male and female birds in North-East Ireland; however, diet differed significantly between the seasons. In summer and autumn, the grains of cereal crops constituted the largest proportion of the diet, whereas in spring and winter, diet was dominated by the fruit and seeds of trees. This varied diet allows Woodpigeons to feed on seasonally abundant food sources, that have a high calorific content and that are ignored by most other seed-eating birds.