It has a flexible diet, predominantly feeding on vegetable matter, including cereal crops, leading to them being regarded as an agricultural pest.

Wood pigeons are extensively hunted over large parts of their range, but this does not seem to have a great impact on their population.

The common wood pigeon was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae.

In Great Britain wood pigeons are commonly seen in parks and gardens[10] and are seen with increasing numbers in towns and cities.

Its flight is quick, performed by regular beats, with an occasional sharp flick of the wings, characteristic of pigeons in general.

It perches well, and in its nuptial display walks along a horizontal branch with swelled neck, lowered wings, and fanned tail.

Wood pigeons are known to fiercely defend their territory, and will fight each other to gain access to nesting and roosting locations.

Male wood pigeons will typically attempt to drive competitors off by threat displays and pursuit, but will also directly fight, jumping and striking their rival with both wings.

It breeds in trees in woods, parks and gardens, laying two white eggs in a simple stick nest which hatch after 17 to 19 days.

Young common wood pigeons swiftly become fat, as a result of the crop milk they are fed by their parents.

In 1953, the British Government introduced a subsidy for the cost of cartridges to sport-hunters of wood pigeons, which was later abolished in 1969.