wood pigeon

American  

noun

1. Also called ringdove. a European pigeon, Columba palumbus, having a whitish patch on each side of the neck.

2. band-tailed pigeon.

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wood pigeon British  

noun

1. Also called: ringdove, cushat. a large Eurasian pigeon, Columba palumbus, having white patches on the wings and neck

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Etymology

Origin of wood pigeon

First recorded in 1660–70

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wood pigeon

This year it dropped from third to fourth place behind the tree sparrow, the blue tit and the wood pigeon.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2025

At time of writing the endangered Kea was the front-runner with more than 6,000 votes, while the Kererū – a native New Zealand wood pigeon – was coming second with around 3,000.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 20, 2017

More recently, there were a few deep-red slices of wild wood pigeon, brought in from Scotland; a very fine thing on a chilly, windy fall night.

From New York Times ● Dec. 6, 2016

The six-course dinners will feature Coromondel oyser, fresh hamachi, wood pigeon, frog legs and more.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2014

“Not quite so big,” admitted Bigwig, “but bigger than a wood pigeon: and a lot fiercer.”

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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