Wood pigeon becomes Finland’s most hunted bird as season opens

Finland’s wood pigeon has become the country’s most popular game bird, with hunting for the species beginning on Monday, Yle reports. The hunting season starts on August 10.

The Finnish Wildlife Agency says the species has adapted well to changes in Finland’s agricultural and cultural landscapes. It is now also commonly seen in the yards and gardens of built-up areas.

“The wood pigeon’s large population and the straightforward hunting arrangements have made it a favourite among hunters. Hunting does not require extensive wilderness areas or expensive equipment,” Jörgen Hermansson, a game management director at the Finnish Wildlife Agency, said in a statement.

Hunting for greylag geese and Canada geese in fields also begins on Monday.

Catches have increased since the 2000s

Wood pigeon catches began to rise in the early 2000s. Previously, the annual catch was between 100,000 and 150,000 birds. Since 2010, it has stabilised at about 250,000 birds a year.

“The pigeon hunting season is short and intensive. The largest catches are usually made immediately after the opening day,” Hermansson said.

Some wood pigeons may still be nesting when the hunting season begins. Hunters are therefore advised to target flocks consisting mainly of birds born that year and birds that have already finished nesting.

Flocks of wood pigeons may also include protected stock doves. They are smaller than wood pigeons and do not have the visible white patches on their wings. Hunters must always make sure they have correctly identified the species before firing.

The wood pigeon is Finland’s most common pigeon species and is found almost throughout the country, apart from the far north of Lapland. In recent years, it has adapted increasingly well to urban environments, and some birds now remain in Finland over winter. Outside the breeding season, wood pigeons form flocks that can number hundreds or even thousands of birds.