Columba livia

The Rock Dove is classified as Data Deficient (DD). The main factor threatening the species is interbreeding with domesticated pigeons, but we lack sufficient data to assess the proportion of hybrid pigeons in the population or the effect of hybridization on the future of the species. In the previous edition of the red book (2002), it was classified as critically endangered (CR), due to an evaluation that most of the Rock Dove-like pigeon flocks in Israel are contaminated with hybridization.

Habitats	Desert Cliffs, Mediterranean Cliffs, Rural Areas
Presence In Israel	Resident
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Resident
Zoographical Zones	Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian, Sudani
Landscape Types	Mountainous, Cliffs, Rural Area, Urban
Vegetation Densities	Low
Nest Locations	Cliffs, Buildings
Diet Types	Herbivore
Foraging Grounds	Ground
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Inbreeding with Feral

The Rock Dove is a common resident throughout Israel, but most of the populations are apparently mixed with feral pigeons. Until the mid-20th century, the Rock Dove was a very common resident species. Flocks of thousands (of the pure wild morph) could be seen throughout the country. The expansion of settled areas, from the mid-20th century was associated with expansion of domesticated pigeons that intermingle with flocks of Rock Doves and produce hybrid offspring. In the 1980s, it was still possible to see large uniform (tens and hundreds) flocks of pure Rock Doves. These untainted populations became ever rarer as settled and agricultural areas expanded, and domestic and feral pigeons spread. In recent years, almost no uncontaminated Rock Dove populations remain. In addition to the problem of genetic contamination in Rock Doves, there is also a general decline in their number compared to the late 19th century, when giant flocks were seen in eastern Judea, Samaria and the Galilee (Tristram 1864).

Rock Doves nest in mountainous, rocky and cliff areas throughout Israel, mainly east of the national watershed. They wander and forage in agricultural fields and grazing lands as well. The hybrid doves also nest in settlements throughout Israel.

• פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
• פרלמן, י., שוחט, א. ולבינגר, ז. 2009. סקר אטלס ציפורים בערבה סיכום שנת 2009. דו"ח מרכז הצפרות של החברה להגנת הטבע.

• Shirihai, H., 1996. The Birds of Israel. Academic Press, London.
• Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
• Species page at Birdlife International