One Contented Pigeon

The Wood pigeon in this photo above looks like a juvenile to me, going by the missing white patches on either side of its neck. Those patches appear at around six months old, about three months after leaving the nest, and young birds also have a greyer bill and lighter grey plumage than adults.¹“Common Wood Pigeon.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_wood_pigeon. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

It has taken a fancy to our firethorn, Pyracantha coccinea, a shrub that has been grown in gardens since the late 16th century, and noted for its orange berries²“Pyracantha coccinea.” wlgf.org, https://wlgf.org/plants/cultivated-plants-in-the-garden/shrubs-and-trees/scarlet-firethorn/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.. The bird has stripped every berry within reach. Those on the side of the bush remain, apparently beyond the skill of a young pigeon.

Greed on this scale needs equipment. A Wood pigeon stores food in a muscular pouch in the upper chest called the crop, which often holds over 70g, while weights of up to 155g have been recorded, including crops holding 725 ivy berries. Afterwards the bird must sit and rest while digestion takes place, which may be why this one let me come so close.³“Woodpigeon Guide: Species Facts, How to Identify, and How They Can Eat So Much.” Discover Wildlife, 8 Jan. 2021, www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-woodpigeons. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

The crop did its work earlier in this bird’s life too. Both parents feed their young on crop milk, which contains more protein and fat than cow or human milk⁴“Bird Milk.” Stanford Birds, Stanford University, https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/uessays/uBird_Milk.html. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026..

• 1
  “Common Wood Pigeon.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_wood_pigeon. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. ↩︎
• 2
  “Pyracantha coccinea.” wlgf.org, https://wlgf.org/plants/cultivated-plants-in-the-garden/shrubs-and-trees/scarlet-firethorn/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. ↩︎
• 3
  “Woodpigeon Guide: Species Facts, How to Identify, and How They Can Eat So Much.” Discover Wildlife, 8 Jan. 2021, www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/birds/facts-about-woodpigeons. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. ↩︎
• 4
  “Bird Milk.” Stanford Birds, Stanford University, https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/uessays/uBird_Milk.html. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026. ↩︎