The name for the type of pigeon you see all over cities is the Rock Pigeon.

It's scientific name is "Columba livia".

Geographic Range
Wild Columba livia are native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia. Feral pigeons are found worldwide, including throughout all of North America. It should be noted that occurrence within this range is not evenly distributed (see habitat)

Habitat
Wild rock doves nest in crevices along rocky seaside cliffs, close to agriculture or open shrub vegetation. Feral pigeons live in old farm buildings in rural areas. In cities, the skyscrapers tend to take the place of their natural cliff surroundings. Terrestrial Biomes; desert or dune savanna or grassland chaparral forest rainforest scrub forest

Physical Description
The rock dove has a dark bluish-gray head, neck, and chest with glossy yellowish, greenish, and reddish-purple iridescence along its neck and wing feathers. Females tend to show less iridescence than the males. The bill is dark grayish-pink. Two dark bands across the wings are seen in most pigeons, and one bluish-gray band across the tail. Rock doves and feral pigeons can be divided into a large number of different phenotypes, or groups based on outward characteristics. Some of these classifications are the blue-bar, blue checker, dark checker, spread, and red phenotypes. Average mass: 358.7 g 12.64 oz

Reproduction
Pairs may be formed at any point during the year. These pairs are formed for life. Each bird works cooperatively on most aspects of reproduction and young-rearing. The male builds the nest, and the eggs are laid shortly after the nest is finished. Both males and females incubate the eggs. Eggs hatch approximately 19 days after being laid. Average eggs per season: 2
AnAge

Average time to hatching: 19 days Average time to hatching: 18 days

AnAge

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) Sex: female: 140 days
AnAge

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) Sex: male: 140 days

Lifespan / Longevity

Average lifespan Status: captivity 35.0 years Average lifespan Status: wild 6.0 years

Behavior
Pigeons generally walk or run while bobbing their heads forward and backward. They fly with a steady and direct path. Pigeons are most often seen during daylight, seeking cover at night and in during the heat of the day, according to the climate. They flock while roosting, sunning, and feeding, but no play has been observed. In the nesting territory, both sexes are aggressive, pecking intruders on the head.

Key Behaviors: flies

Food Habits
Rock doves feed in the early morning and in the mid-afternoon on the open ground. They eat mainly seeds. Studies of pigeons in a semi-rural part of Kansas found that their diet includes the

following: 92% corn, 3.2% oats, 3.7% cherry, along with small amounts of knotweed, elm, poison ivy, and barley. In cities, feral pigeons also eat popcorn, cake, peanuts, bread, and currants. Female rock doves need to eat a diet somewhat higher in protein and calcium in order to have the nutritional resources to lay eggs.

Predation
Some common predators of feral pigeons in the North America are opossums (Didelphis virginiana), raccoons (Procyon lotor), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), and eastern screechowls (Otus asio). Other predators include the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), American kestrels (Falco sparverius), and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus).

Economic Importance for Humans

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Eaten by humans and used for laboratory research.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

A large number of pigeons living in a small area can be a nuisance to farmers. Some diseases (e.g., histoplasmosis) may be spread in pigeon droppings.

References
Johnston, Richard F. Birds of North America No. 13, 1992. The American Ornithologists' Union. Mosca, F. 2001. "Pigeons and Pigeon Genetics for Everyone" (On-line). Accessed September 8, 2012 at http://www.angelfire.com/ga3/pigeongenetics/. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/