Light pollution, especially artificial light at night, has been repeatedly found to affect bird behaviour, resulting in an earlier start of morning activities. However, as thus far only a limited number of species has been investigated, the generality of the effects of light pollution on animal behaviour is difficult to assess. As such effects may be less pronounced in species starting their activity at rather high light intensities, we here investigated the effects of artificial light on the morning activity of a late-active non-passerine, the Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), within the breeding period in north-eastern Germany. Additionally, we scored prevailing weather conditions, which typically also affect morning activity. Despite pronounced differences in the distance to the nearest artificial light source and in mean radiance between urban and rural Wood Pigeons, the onset of morning activity did not differ between the two habitat types. Instead, it was affected by prevailing weather conditions (temperature, cloud cover). We conclude that responses to light pollution are likely species-specific, and that species starting their activity late in the day may be in general less affected. For such species prevailing weather conditions are likely more important for daily activity patterns than light pollution.
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