The UK's largest and commonest pigeon, it is largely grey with a white neck patch and white wing patches, clearly visible in flight. The juvenile lacks the white neck patch. Although shy in the countryside it can be tame and approachable in towns and cities. Its cooing call is a familiar sound in woodlands as is the loud clatter of its wings when it flies away.

Found across the UK in fields and woods, and also in towns and cities where they frequent parks and gardens.

All year round

Most of its diet is taken from open fields, gardens and lawns with young shoots and seedlings favoured. It will also take grain, as well as certain fruits and berries. This species can be an agricultural pest and it is often shot. It breeds in trees in woods, parks and gardens, laying two white eggs in a simple stick nest.

Widespread and common in Britain

An abundant breeding bird in Leicestershire and Rutland.