A pair of Common Wood Pigeons showing there love and affection for one another. The pair bond between the male and female is often strengthened by mutual preening where one pigeon preens the neck and head of it's mate. The Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) is one of several species of bird that exhibit mutual preening (also called allopreening) behaviour. Pigeons are a loving lot and couple-up for life, long distances apart don’t affect their bond. The mating process is very ritualistic. A c