Columba livia, better known as the rock dove, the rock pigeon, rats with wings, or the common pigeon, is a member of the dove and pigeon family Columbidae, and the wild ancestor of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica), which includes about 1,000 different breeds. Common pigeons are initially native to mainland Europe, North Africa, the middle east, india, and parts of central asia, where they inhabit rock formations including cliffs, canyons, caves, buttes, and outcrops near water and open vegetation. Common pigeons where first domesticated at least 5,000 years ago with some evidence pointing to as early as 10,000 years ago, and domestic pigeons have a long history of being raised for meat, eggs, as pets, and famously to carrying messages across long distances in the form of carrier pigeons. Because of this humans ended up bringing pigeons with them where ever they traveled, particularly during the age of sail, meaning that the common pigeon has near global distribution often residing in villages, towns, and cities where they utilize buildings for shelter and nesting sites. Common pigeons are gregarious living in flocks of 50 to 500 birds. They are omnivorous feeding upon a variety of nuts, grains, seeds, fruits, worms, insects, arachnids, as well as discarded human food. Common pigeons are common prey for various raptors, sea birds, raccoons, carnivorous marsupials, reptiles, and felines. Reaching 11 to 15 inches (29 to 37cms) in length, 8.4 to 13.4 ounces ( 238 to 380g) in weight, with a 24 to 28 inch (62 to 72cm) wingspan, the common pigeon typically sports a dark bluish-grey head, neck, and chest with glossy yellowish, greenish, and reddish-purple iridescence along its neck and wing feathers.A grayish to black beak with a off-white cere and purplish red feet. However centuries of domestication have greatly altered the rock dove, and individuals may appear in all manner of colors and patterns. The rock dove breeds at any time of the year, but peak times are spring and summer. They are a typically monogamous species which mates for life, however these birds may form bonds with more than one mate occasionally resulting in trios or quartets. Nesting sites are along rock faces, as well as the artificial structures like buildings. The nest is a flimsy platform of straw, sticks, and other materials built on a ledge where 2 eggs will be laid then incubated by each parent for 17 to 19 days. After hatching the young are cared for by there parents until they fledge at around 30 days. Under ideal conditions a common pigeon may live upwards of 15 years.
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flickr
Moggy by Treflyn Lloyd-Roberts
Via Flickr:
The RAF display Typhoon lights the afterburners as it blasts skywards to end its routine at the 2024 Bournemouth Air Festival. The aircraft wears special markings to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Aircraft: Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 ZJ913. Location: SS Shieldhall, Bournemouth Bay, Dorset.
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F-14 FUN FACT OF THE DAY #47
In order to park an F-14 Tomcat, the wings must be swept back to 75 degrees. The wings are in “oversweep” as they overlap the horizontal wing stabilizers, allowing them to fit more aircraft on the flight deck.
The wiring that put the wings into this position broke “a lot”. Lieutenant Commander Walt Winters, a former F-14 Tomcat electrician with 12 years of experience on the Turkey, had the following to say about the wiring that would set the wing sweep to 75 degrees:
Sometimes you would have to jury-rig it. And you're doing this while you're on top of the airplane. It's still running, the engines are hot, and the [flight crew] are still in there. You've got panels open, and the boss is yelling over the loudspeaker, 'Get the wings back!' Jets are landing right beside you at 150 miles an hour. And taking off. And sometimes it's raining.
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✈️ Daily Plane #3 - 12/02/2024
The Babybus Airbus A318
Time taken: 30 minutes
Requested by: none today, i just wanted to draw a silly guy
ID: a coloured sketch of an Airbus A318. It is facing the viewer and zoomed in so the nose is distorted and much larger. The caption text reads "You got games on your phone?". End ID.
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Freedom Eagle
F-15C (83-0113) from the Fresno California ANG 144th FW, 194th FS is painted in a patriotic livery which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the USAF on Sept. 18, 2022.
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