Photo: Korea Heritage Service / KOGL Type 1 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Wood Pigeon
Columba janthina
Black Wood Pigeon (Columba janthina) — Pigeons & Doves of Europe & Northern Asia.
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The Black Wood Pigeon (Columba janthina) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 397 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Columba
- Species janthina
Where it lives
Islets southwest of southern Korean Pen., between southern Korean Pen. and southern Honshu (southwestern Japan), Izu Is. (eastern Japan), Ryukyu Is. (southern Japan), and Bonin Is. (far southeastern Japan), and islets off Taiwan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 397 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Wood Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black Wood Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Wood Pigeon (Columba janthina) belongs to the Columbidae family of the order Columbiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL islets sw of s Korean Pen., between s Korean Pen. and s Honshu (sw Japan), Izu Is. (e Japan), Ryukyu Is. (s Japan), and Bonin Is. (far se Japan), and islets off Taiwan.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 397 g, with a wing length of about 23.8 cm and a tail of around 18.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6,159 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Wood Pigeon?
The Black Wood Pigeon is a large bird that weighs around 397 g.
Where does the Black Wood Pigeon live?
The Black Wood Pigeon is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL islets sw of s Korean Pen., between s Korean Pen. and s Honshu (sw Japan), Izu Is. (e Japan), Ryukyu Is. (s Japan), and Bonin Is. (far se Japan), and islets off Taiwan, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black Wood Pigeon belong to?
The Black Wood Pigeon (Columba janthina) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Black Wood Pigeon eat?
The Black Wood Pigeon is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black Wood Pigeon migrate?
The Black Wood Pigeon is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Wood Pigeon endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Wood Pigeon make?
1 real field recording of the Black Wood Pigeon — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Wood Pigeon's range?
The Black Wood Pigeon has a mapped global range of about 6,159 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Critically Endangered
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Columbidae
A field guide to the Columbidae family — 352 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.