The Wood Pigeon is the largest species in Britain, and is the bane of a farmers life. Year round shooting has failed to reduce it's numbers in fact it is thought that the autumn cull serves to enable the wood pigeon to survive through the winter because of limited food supplies, and in so doing help keep the numbers up.

The soft coo of the wood pigeon has a soothing sleepy sound on spring and summer days. The general colour of the plumage is grey , lighter beneath and nearly black at the tail. There is a dusky reddish tinge on the breast, and a purple and green sheen to the neck. The main distinguishing marks are the white mark on the neck and the large white bar on the wings, which are very noticeable in flight.

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