Wood-pigeon

Full definition of wood-pigeon

Noun

1. A common name for the common wood pigeon, columba palumbus, a large species in the dove and pigeon family.
• 1671, John Gregory, Gregorii Opuscula : or, Notes & Observations upon some Passages of Scripture, with other learned Tracts, page 236:If Sémiramis be a Wood-pigeon in Greece, it may, perchance have been an House-pigeon in the Countrey of Ajhur.
• 1955, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Scotland), Scottish Agriculture, Volumes 35-36, page 209:ONE of the most interesting and controversial problems connected with the wood-pigeon is the huge winter flocks which many believe are reinforced by migrants or 'foreigners' from abroad.
• 2001, Michael R. Conover, Resolving Human-Wildlife Conflicts, page 155:For a decade, up to 60% of the wood-pigeon population were removed each winter.