| Sedentary and colonial species, with a variable plumage but normally greyish, with two black streaks across its wing and tail and a white rump patch. It builds its nests in holes in buildings. Extremely numerous in Barcelona where its population is estimated at around 180,000 individuals. Perfectly adapted to eating the remains of food in streets and squares. Added to this is the fact that people deliberately feed the bird, enabling it to sustain populations of such high numbers, and resulting in all the associated problems. Its ability to lay up to four clutches a year also helps it to maintain this huge population. Its deep, guttural, cooing is typical of the surroundings of Santa Maria del Mar, the Cathedral, the Sagrada Família, Plaça Catalunya, apartment blocks in Ciutat Vella, Gràcia and so many other places in the city which provide holes in which to nest. |
