Rock dove

Introduction: Rock doves (Columba livia) can be found in urban areas, buildings, industrial sites, cultivated fields and in parks. They usually congregate in their hundreds, often with speckled pigeons. Roosting sites include on buildings, houses and cliffs.

Distribution: Widespread in Namibia less for true Namib Desert. Found in Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, Etosha National Park with scattered populations throughout the country.

Diet: Dry seeds and small fruits are foraged by walking around on lawns or thinly vegetated ground, where they will feed on breadcrumbs and biscuits discarded by humans.

Description: Medium to large-bodied dove with brightly coloured legs. Livia is the Latin phrase for 'blue or leaden colour'.

Breeding: Females lay 1 or 2 eggs on any month of the year. Incubation periods are around 18 days.

Size: 32cm.

Weight: 400g.