干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Free-living Rock Doves (Columba livia) were observed roosting throughout the day on ledges in a canyon in the Negev Desert. Potential thermoregulatory behaviors were recorded, including movement between sites in order to remain in the shade, the adoption of postures minimizing energy expenditure (and enhancing convective cooling), feather erection consistent with the cutaneous evaporation of water (and enhancing convective cooling) and elevated rates of blinking. These observations are consistent with recent laboratory studies on the heat balance of Rock Doves.