# Somali pigeon (Columba oliviae)

> The Somali pigeon, a bird found only in Somalia: how to recognise it, where it lives, what it eats, the possible threat from the speckled pigeon, and all its shared records, region by region.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/nature/somali-pigeon/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

The Somali pigeon (*Columba oliviae*), also called the Somali stock dove, is a bird of the pigeon family, Columbidae, and is endemic to Somalia ([IUCN Red List, *Columba oliviae*, 2024](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22690092A238753952.en)). It was described by S. Clarke in 1918 ([GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/species/5231870)).

## How to recognise it

It is a mid-sized, pale grey pigeon with a mauve cap, yellow eyes and a shiny bronze-green collar. It has a bluish-grey rump, dark wing edges and dark bands on its tail, all clearest in flight ([Wikipedia, Somali pigeon, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_pigeon)). It is smaller and paler than the feral pigeon, and it lacks the dark neck band of the collared doves that share its range ([Wikipedia, Somali pigeon, backup](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_pigeon)). Its call has been written as "wuk-wuk-wuk-ooooh" (same source).

Taxonomists place it with the stock dove and the yellow-eyed pigeon, in the *Oenas* group of the genus *Columba* ([Taxonomy of the genus *Columba*](http://www.macaronesian.org/assets/files/file-e7a51afe4001ca.pdf)).

## Where it lives and what it eats

Its range covers much of northeast Somalia, especially the coast, including [Somaliland](/en/states/somaliland-1991-to-2026/). It does not migrate ([eBird, Somali Pigeon](https://ebird.org/species/sompig1); [BirdLife International, Somali Pigeon factsheet](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/somali-pigeon-columba-oliviae/text)). It lives mostly on the ground in dry coastal country, on cliffs and hills with little plant cover. It is seen in pairs or small flocks and feeds on seeds, grain from farms and berries (same sources).

## What is known about its numbers

Its population size and trend are unknown. BirdLife notes that no law protects it and that a population survey is needed ([BirdLife International](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/somali-pigeon-columba-oliviae/text)). The IUCN Red List notes possible competition from the speckled pigeon (*Columba guinea*), which is spreading into its range ([IUCN Red List, 2024](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22690092A238753952.en)).

## Records in Somali lands

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) holds 35 records of the Somali pigeon from Somalia, dated from 1917 to 2025 ([GBIF occurrence search, Somalia](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=SO&taxon_key=5231870)). By type: 19 museum specimens, 16 sightings by people.

Records that name a region (16 of 35), by region: [Woqooyi Galbeed](/en/regions/woqooyi-galbeed/) 15, [Togdheer](/en/regions/togdheer/) 1 (same source).

The oldest dated record is a museum specimen from 1917, from a place recorded as "Dubbar, 700', 8 miles south of Berbera, [British Somaliland](/en/history/british-somaliland-1884-1960/)", held by the Natural History Museum, [London](/en/diaspora/london/) ([GBIF record 1291491186](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/1291491186)).

The newest dated record is a sighting by a person from 2025, from Woqooyi Galbeed, held by iNaturalist ([GBIF record 6188587367](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/347761621)).

GBIF only holds what museums, scientists and observers have shared, so the counts show where the animal or plant has been recorded, not its full range.

## Red List status

The IUCN Red List category for the Somali pigeon is **Least Concern** ([IUCN Red List assessment](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22690092A238753952.en); [GBIF species page](https://www.gbif.org/species/5231870)).

## Classification

| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Columba |
| Species | *Columba oliviae* |

Scientific name with author: *Columba oliviae* S.Clarke, 1918 ([GBIF Backbone Taxonomy](https://www.gbif.org/species/5231870)).

## Related pages

- [Birds of Somalia](/en/nature/birds-of-somalia/)

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List assessment](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22690092A238753952.en)
- [GBIF species page](https://www.gbif.org/species/5231870)
- [GBIF occurrence records, Somalia](https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?country=SO&taxon_key=5231870)
- [eBird, Somali Pigeon](https://ebird.org/species/sompig1)
- [BirdLife International, Somali Pigeon](http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/somali-pigeon-columba-oliviae/text)
- [Wikipedia (backup)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_pigeon)

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