Rock Dove - Columba livia
Florida's Exotic Wildlife. Species detail.
First year: 1966
Extirpated year:
Established status: Populations
are confirmed breeding and apparently self-sustaining for 10 or
more consecutive years.
Estimated Florida range: 67
counties At least 10 years
Statewide trend: Stable
Threats to natives:
Droppings are unsightly and can be a health hazard where food and
other materials can be contaminated. Control is costly. They carry
diseases such as psittacosis, cryptococcal meningitis,
histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, and encephalitis. Because they
mostly inhabit urban areas little impact on native species is
expected.
Species Account: Originally
native to Africa, Europe and Asia, but populations in the United
States are all derived from feral populations. This bird has been
ubiquitous in American cities for generations, and its first
appearance in Florida is unknown. It can be an annoyance in urban
areas with its gregarious behavior and tendency to roost on
buildings. It can provide a ready food source for birds of
prey.
Habitats:
| County |
First Year |
Extirpated Year |
Breeding status |
Notes |
| Northwest |
|
|
At least 10 years |
|
| North Central |
|
|
At least 10 years |
|
| Northeast |
|
|
At least 10 years |
|
| Southwest |
|
|
At least 10 years |
|
| South |
|
|
At least 10 years |
|
References
James, F. C. 1997. Nonindigenous Birds. Pages
139-156 In Strangers Among Us: Impact and management of
nonindigenous species in Florida. (Simberloff,D., D. Schmitz, and
E. Wilson, eds.) Island Press, Washington D.C.
Johnston, R. F. 1992. Rock Dove (Columbia livia) In
The Birds of North America No. 13 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.) The
Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American
Ornithological Union, Washington, D.C.
Pimental, D., L. Lach, R. Zuniga, and D. Morrison.
1999. Environmental and economic costs associated with
non-indigenous species in the United States. Cornell University.
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Jan99/species_costs.html
Stevenson, H. M., and B. H. Anderson. 1994. The
birdlife of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida, USA.
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