Postembrional development of the feral pigeon (Columba livia) nestlings in an urbanized territory

Abstract

Ontogenesis of the feral pigeons, Columba livia, was investigated in the territory of the city of Kazan. Nestlings of summer generation of one laying were shown to hatch with a diurnal interval, nestlings of spring, autumn, and winter generations with an interval of 3-4 h. There are five stages in the development of feral pigeon nestlings. Three stages falls on the nesting period, the fourth period covers the end and partly the postnesting one, and the fifth stage corresponds to the postnesting period. The maximal growth rate is characteristic of the first three days of postembryogenesis. The greatest increment of the mass and increase in the linear sizes of nestlings occurred in the first half of postembryogenesis. By the moment of hatching, some parts of the body are formed to a different degree, therefore, the rate of their development is also different. The highest rate of the growth was in the body parts that began functioning earlier than the others. By the end of the nesting period, the upper and lower tips and the length of the secondaries reach the definite sizes. The linear sizes of the body and feathering continue growing during the postnesting period.