Characteristics:
It is strong and quick on the wing, dashing out from sea caves, flying low over the water, its white rump showing well from above.
Size:
The Pigeon is 30–35 cm long with a 62–68 cm wingspan
Color:
The white lower back of the pure Pigeon is its best identification character, but the two black bars on its pale grey wings are also distinctive. The tail is margined with white.
Behavior:
Pigeons find the ledges of high buildings a perfect substitute for sea cliffs, and have become abundant in cities all over the world. However, they are often considered a pest or even vermin, owing to concerns that they spread disease, damage property, cause pollution with their excrement, and drive out other bird species.
Some also consider pigeons an invasive species.
Habitat:
The Pigeon has a restricted natural resident range in western and southern Europe, North Africa, and into South Asia. Its habitat is natural cliffs, usually on coasts. Its domesticated form, the feral pigeon, has been widely introduced elsewhere, and is common, especially in cities, over much of the world. In Britain, Ireland and much of its former range, the Pigeon probably only occurs pure in the most remote areas. A Pigeon’s life span is anywhere from 3–5 years in the wild to 15 years in captivity, though longer-lived specimens have been reported.

Contact with pigeon droppings may pose a small health risk. Three human diseases are known to be associated with pigeon droppings: histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis.