Comparative urban behaviour of two sympatric columbids: Columba palumbus and Columba livia

Iñigo Navidad Larraona, Zaida Ortega Diago

Urban environments favour species tolerant of human disturbance. We compared time budgets and anti-predator behaviour of the common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) and rock pigeon (Columba livia) in five urban parks in León (Spain) using video recordings and predator approach tests. The common wood pigeon devoted most time to foraging (81.1%) with moderate vigilance (9.9%), while the rock pigeon showed higher movement (35.25%) and near-absent vigilance (2.95%). It escaped mainly by flying (84%), with greater flight initiation distances (9.47 vs. 4.59 m) and distances to refuge (4.27 vs. 1.89 m). Group size reduced vigilance in the common wood pigeon but only movement in the rock pigeon. These findings show that the rock pigeon exhibits a more habituated, low-vigilance behavioural profile, whereas the common wood pigeon retains a more cautious anti-predator strategy, indicating contrasting responses to urban environments.