rock dove
noun
: a bluish-gray dove (Columba livia) that is indigenous to Eurasia but has been widely established elsewhere including most of North America and that is the ancestor of many domesticated pigeons and of the feral pigeons found in cities and towns throughout most of the world
called also rock pigeon
Examples of rock dove in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The official common name of the pigeon was recently changed from rock dove to rock pigeon.
—
Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2013
Feral pigeons are descended from the rock dove, which naturally inhabits sea cliffs and mountains.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021
The feral pigeons that inhabit the city today are the descendants of wild rock pigeons, also known as rock doves, which are native to Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia.
—Keith Williams, New York Times, 23 May 2018
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Lyanda Lynn Haupt, Discover Magazine, 19 Nov. 2013
Feral pigeons are descended from the rock dove, which naturally inhabits sea cliffs and mountains.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2021
The feral pigeons that inhabit the city today are the descendants of wild rock pigeons, also known as rock doves, which are native to Europe, northern Africa and southwestern Asia.
—Keith Williams, New York Times, 23 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Rock dove.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rock%20dove. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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