Abundant resident.

The Woodpigeon originally inhabited deciduous woodland and was in the nineteenth century considered as common in all the wooded and enclosed parts of Britain. By the last quarter of that century it was increasing and becoming more adaptable by breeding in more general habitats, this increase coincided with the growth of arable farming and the destruction of birds of prey and crows by gamekeepers which removed many of its natural predators. The downside of this increase was that the Woodpigeon became a pest because of the immense damage it does to arable crops. The Herts Express of 15 February 1957 advised Bedwell residents to keep out of Whomerley and Monks Wood for the next two or three Saturdays whilst Woodpigeon shooting took place under, “agricultural pest regulations”.

The 1992 Breeding Atlas confirmed breeding from all eleven of the tetrads covering Stevenage, this was an increase from the seven in the 1973 Atlas. This increase proved the adaptability of the Woodpigeon by increasing in an urban area and successfully making the transition from woodland and farmland to urban areas. The 2012 Breeding Atlas however, only confirmed breeding from 6 tetrads, probable breeding from 4 and, possible breeding from one tetrad.

The 2012 Winter Atlas confirmed their presence from all 11 of the tetrads covering Stevenage.

Breeding territories were recorded annually at Watery Grove by the Common Bird Census between 1984 and 1999, with a peak of 11 territories being held in 1998.

The largest flocks recorded are: 450 at Astonbury on 15 March 1967, 1,000 at Box Wood on 27 December 1973; between 500 and 1,000 at Coreys Mill on 31 December 1974; 1000 at Aston End on 1 December 2007; c. 840 over Fairlands Valley Lakes on 1 November 2021; c. 510 over Stevenage in flocks of up to 70 between 06.45and 07.30am on 2 November 2021; 1270 in flocks of up to 50 birds over Fairlands Valley Lakes on 6 November 2023.