| IDENTIFICATION | FERAL PIGEON | GULL |
| COMMON NAMES | Pigeon, flying rat | Seagull |
| LATIN NAME | Columba livia | Larus argentatus |
| HEAD AND BODY | 30-34 cm. | 55-67 cm |
| WINGSPAN | 63-70 cm | 1.3 – 1.6m |
| WEIGHT | 300-550g | 750-1’250g |
| EYES | Red/rusty brown | Pale yellow (sandy) |
| MARKINGS | Usually blue/purple but can be reddish pink and mottled | Adult: White head and body with grey wings, yellow beak and pale pink webbed feet. Immature: Brown blotch body |
| LIFE CYCLE | Females laying 2-3 off-white eggs per clutch, the incubation period being of 18-19 days with fledglings leaving the nest at 30-32 days can have up to 8 clutches a year. | A clutch of 3/ 4 eggs being laid April-May onwards. |
| LIFE SPAN | Up to 10 Years | 10-20 Years |
| DROPPINGS | Off whitish drying to a powder | As pigeons |
| HABITS | Found anywhere from the most rural to urban areas, usually alongside man | Found from the coast lines to city centres |
| FEEDING HABITS | Any scraps waste left from man. Small seeds, grain etc. | Takes fish, molluscs, insects, offal and all scraps from ground and water. |
| ASSOCIATED RISKS | Spreading Salmonella, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Damage to buildings, Nesting debris, Offensive smell, blocking drains, chimneys resulting in risk of fire or build up of gases | Spreading Salmonella, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Damage to buildings Nesting debris, Offensive smell, blocking drains, chimneys resulting in risk of fire or build up of gases. Aggression can be shown to public and clients during nesting season. |
| REASONS FOR CONTROL | Spreading Salmonella, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Damage to buildings Nesting debris blocking drains, chimneys resulting in risk of fire or build up of gases Can be a nuisance, noisy (scratching, cooing and squabs calling). | Spreading Salmonella, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Damage to buildings, Nesting debris, Offensive smell, blocking drains, chimneys resulting in risk of fire or build up of gases. Aggression can be shown to public and clients during nesting season. |
Pigeon Vs Seagull
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