Wood pigeon chicks are fed on crop milk, specially produced by the parents.

Physical description
Wood pigeons are large and portly grey birds, with a white band across the wings, white patch at the side of the neck and a dark band on the tail. They have a pinkish brown neck and upper breast.

Distribution
They range across Europe, east to Iran and northern India. They inhabit eastern and central islands of the Azores, Madeira, and North West Africa.

Habitat
Wood pigeons inhabit a variety of habitats, particularly wooded country, farmland, parks and gardens.

Diet
They are mainly vegetarian, feeding on flowers, young leaves, seeds, herbs, grasses, grain and berries, but they also occasionally eat invertebrates.

Behaviour
Many farmers consider wood pigeons to be pests due to their habit of raiding crops. The birds often feed in large flocks where abundant food is available.

Reproduction
Wood pigeon nests are very scanty and are placed in trees and bushes. The two eggs are incubated for 17-19 days by both parents. The chicks fledge after about 16-35 days.

Conservation status
Wood pigeons are not considered to be globally threatened. There are probably almost 2,500,000 pairs breeding in Britain.

Voice
Their call sounds like coo-coo-coo, coo-coo.