Bird Vote: Woodpigeon is my choice

A few weeks ago I heard about #birdvote but didn't get around to voting, so I have missed the first round of voting.  

http://www.votenationalbird.com/

"Two amazing things happened in the mid 60′s. The Robin was voted Britain’s favourite bird and…
The surprising thing is neither has happened since...
All you have to do is scroll down and vote for one of the 10 short-listed birds that best personifies all that this wonderful nation represents. These 10 birds have been nominated from an original list of 60 iconic British birds that were voted on last year. Each of the 10 species has a special place in the hearts and minds of the Great British public. The online voting is now live and will close at midnight May 7th 2015 – the date of the General Election. Britain’s National Bird will be announced thereafter.The question is: will the Robin be knocked off its perch?"

I can't believe that the Woodpigeon hasn't made it on to the shortlist.  Set aside the fact that they describe the birds as iconic*, surely the Woodpigeon has a place in the hearts of the British?  It does for me anyway.  I'm comforted by its raspy warbling song, listening to it when lying in bed on a morning. And I like to irritate my family by predicting the end note of its song. It reminds me of home, England, Britain.  

Perhaps it is because the Woodpigeon's song is so often confused with the Dove's that it has not been shortlisted.  They are similar, but whereas the dove seems to go on forever repeating its "hoo-hooo hoo" sound, the Woodpigeon launches into its song full of vigour, generally singing 3 bars of its song enthusiastically, but then packs in on 1st note of 4th bar, as if it can't be arsed. So British.



Unlike the Dove which hoo-hoooh hoo:



(this YouTube poster has mistakenly titled this clip)

* Iconic: A most "infuriatingly ubiquitous cliché" 
http://bouncermangel.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/everything-is-iconic-nowadays.html