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Rock dove (Columba livia)

Feral Pigeons were introduced to Australia before 1873 and are now considered a pest species. They occur in urban and farm areas, where they feed on seeds and can foul buildings and infrastructure.

Key facts

Type: Pest animal, bird.

Native to: Europe, North Africa and western Asia.

Established in: QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA.

Other names: Feral Pigeon.

Identification

  • The body can be up to 36 cm long.
  • Body colour varies, and the upperparts are usually grey or black.
  • The wings have a dark and light chequered pattern or two dark stripes.
  • A grey body with two dark wing stripes is a useful field clue.
  • Look-alike: Spotted Doves can be confused with Rock Doves; they have a distinctive black-and-white spotted patch on the side of the neck.

Where it lives

In Australia, Rock Doves occur on the mainland and in Tasmania, especially in urban or farm areas.

Why it matters

  • Their droppings can foul buildings and infrastructure.
  • They eat seeds and can consume accessible grain or contaminate food and feed.

How it spreads

  • Feral Pigeons were introduced to Australia before 1873.
  • They are recorded from mainland Australia and Tasmania and usually nest in groups.

Control methods

  • Reduce access to food and manage features that provide nesting or roosting sites.
  • Use exclusion and other approved methods to deter birds from buildings and sensitive areas.
  • If direct control is needed, use humane methods and seek advice from the local council or relevant authority about approved options.
  • Check with the relevant authority about any local reporting requirements.

Site hygiene and welfare

  • Keep vehicles and work areas free of spilled grain and food scraps that could attract pigeons.
  • When cleaning droppings, dampen them first and use gloves and suitable respiratory protection to avoid raising dust.
  • Use methods set out in the national model codes of practice and standard operating procedures for the species.
  • Coordinate control with neighbours and the local government biosecurity plan, as isolated effort is quickly undone by reinvasion.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Prohibited dealing. It must not be kept, sold or released in NSW except for approved exhibition or research. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Declared animal. Declared animals have legal restrictions, which can cover keeping, moving, selling and releasing them, and landowners may be required to control them.
  • Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • Tasmania: Not a declared pest. Not a declared pest or prohibited matter in Tasmania. Importing animals is still controlled by Biosecurity Tasmania.
  • Northern Territory: Prohibited entrant. Wildlife that is not native to the NT is a prohibited entrant, so you need an NT permit to bring it in or keep it. Report any wild sighting to the NT Government.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources