# Stock Dove (*Columba oenas*) The Stock Dove is a gentle bird that loves to live in forests and fields. It has a soft gray color and a sweet cooing sound that makes it special. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests and fields - **Also known as:** Columba oenas, Common Stock Dove ![Stock Dove](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426518/objects/1765.jpg) ## Appearance The Stock Dove is a medium-sized, plain grey pigeon with a pinkish-grey breast and an iridescent green-purple patch on its neck. It lacks the distinctive white neck patch and white wing bars found on other common doves, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Columbiformes - **Family:** Columbidae - **Genus:** Columba ## Interesting facts - Stock Doves often use old rabbit burrows for nesting, especially when tree holes are scarce! - They sometimes gather in large flocks, forming groups of hundreds during winter! - Unlike other common pigeons, this dove never has any white markings on its body! - Wow, its name 'Stock' refers to old tree stumps where it often builds its nests! ## Special abilities - **Tree-Hole Nester:** Stock Doves can nest in tree cavities or abandoned buildings, because their small size helps them find secure, hidden spots. - **Seed-Seeking Sensors:** Stock Doves have excellent eyesight that helps them spot tiny seeds and grains on the ground, even in dense vegetation. - **Rapid Escape Artist:** Stock Doves can fly at high speeds with powerful wingbeats, because their strong flight muscles help them evade predators quickly. - **Winter Survivor:** Stock Doves can adapt their diet to eat buds and leaves in winter, because their flexible digestive system helps them survive scarcity. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 32-34 cm - **Wingspan:** 60-66 cm - **Weight:** 0.29-0.36 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-13 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 16-18 days - **Migration Distance:** 1500 km ## Diet & Feeding Mainly eats seeds, grains, and leaves from plants, occasionally adding small invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** seeds, grains, shoots, leaves, berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Sparrowhawk (*Accipiter nisus*) — Common predator of small to medium-sized birds. - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Fast-flying falcon that hunts birds mid-flight. - **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Feeds on mast, especially beech nuts during winter. - **Depends on:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Relies on acorns for food and tree holes for nesting. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Stock Dove? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Stock Dove? 32-34 cm ### What is Stock Dove's wingspan? 60-66 cm ### How much does Stock Dove weigh? 0.29-0.36 kg ### How long does Stock Dove live? 5-13 years ### How fast can Stock Dove move? 65 km/h ### What does Stock Dove eat? Mainly eats seeds, grains, and leaves from plants, occasionally adding small invertebrates. ### Where is Stock Dove usually found? Forests and fields ## Where to spot - [Madrid Zoo Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/madrid-zoo-aquarium) — Spain, ES · Aquarium - [London Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/london-aquarium) — England, GB · Aquarium - [Wilhelma Zoologisch-Botanischer Garten Stuttgart](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wilhelma-stuttgart) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Zoo - [Montedimezzo State Nature Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/montedimezzo-state-nature-reserve) — IT · Park - [Muskauer Park (Bad Muskau)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/muskauer-park-bad-muskau) — Sachsen, DE · Park - [Rosensteinpark Stuttgart](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosensteinpark-stuttgart) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park [View all places to see Stock Dove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/stock-dove) ## Watch - [Play video: Stock Dove](https://www.snappit.app/videos/stock-dove) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=3wdT4k5mBO4) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Stock Dove: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stock-dove)