“A small population of ‘unadulterated’ or ‘wild’ Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) exists at some of the limestone hills in the city where they nest. They then to breed true to original colours.
“I noticed two today that had white on the lower back (above, below). I was first alerted to it when one was preening and then spotted the other. Most Rock Pigeons have grey-blue backs and rumps. There is no clear idea of the sub species for the region but the northern Thailand birds are identified as C. l. intermedia (Wells 1999).
“1. One web site describing the pigeon states… ‘In the wild, the rock pigeon has a bluish-gray body, … and a white rump.’ – LINK
“2. The WikiBooks Field Guide says ‘The white lower back of the pure Rock Pigeon is its best identification character, but the two black bars on its pale grey wings are also distinctive.’ In flight ‘…its white rump showing well from above.’ – LINK
“3 states. HBW when describing the different species makes these observations:
‘General colour … lower back white, latter sharply separated from dark grey rump‘; ‘Race C. l. gymnocyclus typically very dark, with … white patch on back, but some birds paler…’; ‘Race intermedia differs in lacking white patch on back‘ – Baptista et al. (2017). Rock Dove (Columba livia). – In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive.
“4. Wells (1999) says that some have a white rump but that most Rock Pigeons in Asia have grey rumps.
“Note: I think the use of rump here is a little extended as the white patch is more lower back than rump.”
Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
22nd September 2017
Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Limestone hills at fringe of city
