They may be common and non-native across most of the world, but I think that Rock Pigeons are amazing birds. They thrive in a huge variety of habitats, including where few other birds can: the city center. While I admittedly rarely point my lens at pigeons, I couldn’t resist watching and photographing this pair as they carefully groomed each other’s feathers, a behavior known as allopreening. They were perched in front of a dark backdrop: the underside of a pier. Purposefully exposing for the brighter parts of the image, the shadowy environment made for a studio-like black background behind these remarkable iridescent birds. It’s easy to overlook and underappreciate common species, so I hope this photo serves as a reminder to appreciate the beauty of even the most abundant birds. I hadn’t planned on photographing pigeons that day, but I’m glad that the beauty of this pair ultimately captured my attention.