The blue pigeon (Latin Columba livia) is a widespread bird of the pigeon family, home to South Europe, Southwest Asia and North Africa. Even in ancient times, these birds were tamed by man, resulting in the withdrawal of so-called domestic pigeons (Columba livia var. Domestica). At the time of the Great Discoveries, a man carried all his possessions, including pigeons, with him. Subsequently, feral pigeons (Columba livia var. Urbana) spread widely in the world and became synanthropes, habitual inhabitants of cities and villages.
In the wild, a blue dove usually settles on coastal rocks, in mountain canyons or along steep river banks, often near shrubbery or agricultural land. Their semi-domestic descendants easily adapted to life near human habitation, as stone buildings resemble natural habitats, and food waste serves as a reliable fodder base at any time of the year. Despite early domestication and various habitat conditions, wild blue pigeons and their urban relatives freely interbreed with each other, which, according to ornithologists, can lead to degradation and the gradual extinction of the first. In nature, birds usually live no more than three to five years, when breeding at home they often live to the age of 15, and individuals and up to 35 years of age. Folk names of birds are sizak, sisar.
The dove is the bird of peace. There are different colors of blue: from crystal white to a variety of gray palette