Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

"Familiarity breeds contempt" goes the old saying but even if not contempt, familiarity often blinds one to commonplace beauties such as this Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). While not native to North America they have naturalized themselves here and over most of the globe and come in a wide variety of colors. Though they are often considered pests they are very attractive birds and the one above posed so nicely for me I felt quite grateful. Photographed at Esquimalt Lagoon on 19th October.

Pigeons

I often remark on seagulls and post their pictures here but above is another city-dwelling bird. In this city, however, they are far outnumbered by seagulls. These are Rock Pigeons (Columba livia). This group was scrabbling for bread crumbs some kind soul had scattered in front of the Salvation Army building at the bottom of Johnson Street.