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The doves are the 308 species of near passerine birds in the order Columbiformes. The terms dove and pigeon are used interchangeably, although smaller species are more likely to be called doves.
The species commonly referred to just as the "pigeon" is the feral Rock Pigeon.
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
The usually flimsy nests are made of sticks, and the two white eggs are incubated by both sexes. Doves feed on seeds, fruit and other soft plantstuff. Unlike most other birds, (but see flamingo), the doves and pigeons produce "crop milk", which is secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
This family occurs worldwide, but the greatest variety is in the Indomalaya and Australasia ecozones. It is related to the extinct dodos. The young doves and pigeons are called "squabs". A person who keeps pigeons is called a "pigeon fancier".
Classification & species list
The family is usually divided into five subfamilies, as follows; genus order here follows Handbook of the Birds of the World (Lynx, 1997) with some updates:
Subfamily Columbinae — typical pigeons & doves
Genus Columba Typical pigeons- Rock Pigeon or feral pigeon, Columba livia
- Stock Dove Columba oenas
- Trocaz Pigeon Columba trocaz
- Bolle's Pigeon Columba bollii
- Laurel Pigeon Columba junoniae
- White-crowned Pigeon Columba leucocephala
- Red-billed Pigeon Columba flavirostris
- Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata
- Hill Pigeon, Columba rupestris
- Snow Pigeon, Columba leuconota
- Speckled Pigeon, Columba guinea
- White-collared Pigeon, Columba albitorques
- Pale-backed Pigeon, Columba eversmanni
- Somali Pigeon, Columba oliviae
- Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus
- Afep Pigeon, Columba unicincta
- African Olive Pigeon, Columba arquatrix
- Cameroon Olive Pigeon, Columba sjostedti
- Sao Tome Olive Pigeon, Columba thomensis
- Comoro Olive Pigeon, Columba polleni
- Speckled Wood-pigeon, Columba hodgsonii
- White-naped Pigeon, Columba albinucha
- Ashy Wood-pigeon, Columba pulchricollis
- Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Columba elphinstonii
- Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, Columba torringtoni
- Pale-capped Pigeon, Columba punicea
- Silvery Pigeon, Columba argentina (possibly extinct)
- Andaman Wood-pigeon, Columba palumboides
- Japanese Wood-pigeon, Columba janthina
- Bonin Wood-pigeon, Columba versicolor (extinct)
- Ryukyu Wood-pigeon, Columba jouyi (extinct)
- Metallic Pigeon or White-throated Pigeon, Columba vitiensis
- White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucomela
- Yellow-legged Pigeon, Columba pallidiceps
- White-crowned Pigeon, Columba leucocephala
- Scaly-naped Pigeon, Columba squamosa
- Scaled Pigeon, Columba speciosa
- Picazuro Pigeon, Columba picazuro
- Bare-eyed Pigeon, Columba corensis
- Spot-winged Pigeon, Columba maculosa
- Band-tailed Pigeon, Columba fasciata
- Chilean Pigeon, Columba araucana
- Ring-tailed Pigeon, Columba caribaea
- Pale-vented Pigeon, Columba cayennensis
- Red-billed Pigeon, Columba flavirostris
- Peruvian Pigeon, Columba oenops
- Plain Pigeon, Columba inornata
- Plumbeous Pigeon, Columba plumbea
- Ruddy Pigeon, Columba subvinacea
- Short-billed Pigeon, Columba nigrirostris
- Dusky Pigeon, Columba goodsoni
- Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Columba delegorguei
- Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Columba iriditorques
- Sao Tome Bronze-naped Pigeon, Columba malherbii
- African Lemon-dove, Columba larvata
- Sao Tome Lemon-dove, Columba simplex
Genus Streptopelia
- Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis - might belong to Stigmatopelia
- Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis - might also belong to Stigmatopelia
- Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
- Barbary Dove Streptopelia risoria (domesticated; taxonomic status doubtful)
- African Collared Dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
- Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
- Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
- Dusky Turtle Dove, Streptopelia lugens
- Adamawa Turtle Dove, Streptopelia hypopyrrha
- Island Collared Dove, Streptopelia bitorquata
- White-winged Collared Dove, Streptopelia reichenowi
- African Mourning Dove, Streptopelia decipiens
- Red-eyed Dove, Streptopelia semitorquata
- Ring-necked Dove, Streptopelia capicola
- Vinaceous Dove, Streptopelia vinacea
- Red Turtle Dove, Streptopelia tranquebarica
- Madagascar Turtle Dove, Streptopelia picturata - might belong to Nesoenas
- Pink Pigeon, Streptopelia mayeri - might belong to Nesoenas
Genus Macropygia
- Barred Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchall
- Slender-billed Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia amboinensis
- Brown Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia phasianella
- Dusky Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia magna
- Andaman Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia rufipennis
- Philippine Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia tenuirostris
- Ruddy Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia emiliana
- Black-billed Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia nigrirostris
- Mackinlay's Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia mackinlayi
- Little Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficeps
Genus Reinwardtoena
- Great Cuckoo-dove, Reinwardtoena reinwardtii
- Pied Cuckoo-dove, Reinwardtoena browni
- Crested Cuckoo-dove, Reinwardtoena crassirostris
Genus Turacoena
- White-faced Cuckoo-dove, Turacoena manadensis
- Black Cuckoo-dove, Turacoena modesta
Genus Turtur
- Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Turtur chalcospilos
- Black-billed Wood Dove, Turtur abyssinicus
- Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Turtur afer
- Tambourine Dove, Turtur tympanistria
- Blue-headed Wood Dove, Turtur brehmeri
Genus Oena
- Namaqua Dove, Oena capensis
Genus Chalcophaps
- Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica
- Stephan's Dove, Chalcophaps stephani
Genus Henicophaps
- New Guinea Bronzewing, Henicophaps albifrons
- New Britain Bronzewing, Henicophaps foersteri
Genus Phaps, bronzewing pigeons
- Common Bronzewing, Phaps chalcoptera
- Brush Bronzewing, Phaps elegans
- Flock Bronzewing, Phaps histrionica
Genus Ocyphaps
- Crested Pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes
Genus Geophaps
- Spinifex Pigeon, Geophaps plumifera
- Squatter Pigeon, Geophaps scripta
- Partridge Pigeon, Geophaps smithii
Genus Petrophassa, rock pigeons
- Chestnut-quilled Rock Pigeon, Petrophassa rufipennis
- White-quilled Rock Pigeon, Petrophassa albipennis
Genus Geopelia
- Diamond Dove, Geopelia cuneata
- Zebra Dove, Geopelia striata
- Peaceful Dove, Geopelia placida
- Barred Dove, Geopelia maugei
- Bar-shouldered Dove, Geopelia humeralis
Genus Leucosarcia
- Wonga Pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca
Genus Zenaida
- Socorro Dove, Zenaida graysoni
- Eared Dove, Zenaida auriculata
- Zenaida Dove, Zenaida aurita
- Galapagos Dove, Zenaida galapagoensis
- White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiatica
- Pacific Dove, Zenaida meloda
- Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Genus Ectopistes
- Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius (extinct)
Genus Columbina Ground Doves
- Common Ground Dove, Columbina passerina
- Plain-breasted Ground Dove, Columbina minuta
- Ecuadorian Ground Dove, Columbina buckleyi
- Ruddy Ground Dove, Columbina talpacoti
- Picui Dove, Columbina picui
- Croaking Ground Dove, Columbina cruziana
- Blue-eyed Ground Dove, Columbina cyanopis
Genus Claravis
- Blue Ground Dove, Claravis pretiosa
- Purple-winged Ground Dove, Claravis godefrida
- Maroon-chested Ground Dove, Claravis mondetoura
Genus Metropelia
- Bare-faced Ground Dove, Metriopelia ceciliae
- Moreno's Ground Dove, Metriopelia morenoi
- Black-winged Ground Dove, Metriopelia melanoptera
- Golden-spotted Ground Dove, Metriopelia aymara
Genus Scardafella
- Inca Dove, Scardafella inca
- Scaled Dove, Scardafella squammata
Genus Uropelia
- Long-tailed Ground Dove, Uropelia campestris
Genus Leptotila
- White-tipped Dove, Leptotila verreauxi
- White-faced Dove, Leptotila megalura
- Grey-fronted Dove, Leptotila rufaxilla
- Grey-headed Dove, Leptotila plumbeiceps
- Pallid Dove, Leptotila pallida
- Brown-backed Dove, Leptotila battyi
- Grenada Dove, Leptotila wellsi
- Caribbean Dove, Leptotila jamaicensis
- Grey-chested Dove, Leptotila cassini
- Ochre-bellied Dove, Leptotila ochraceiventris
- Tolima Dove, Leptotila conoveri
Genus Geotrygon, quail-doves
- Purplish-backed Quail-dove, Geotrygon lawrencii
- Veracruz Quail-dove, Geotrygon carrikeri
- Costa Rica Quail-dove, Geotrygon costaricensis
- Russet-crowned Quail-dove, Geotrygon goldmani
- Sapphire Quail-dove, Geotrygon saphirina
- Grey-headed Quail-dove, Geotrygon caniceps
- Crested Quail-dove, Geotrygon versicolor
- Rufous-breasted Quail-dove, Geotrygon chiriquensis
- Olive-backed Quail-dove, Geotrygon veraguensis
- White-faced Quail-dove, Geotrygon albifacies
- Lined Quail-dove, Geotrygon linearis
- White-throated Quail-dove, Geotrygon frenata
- Key West Quail-dove, Geotrygon chrysia
- Bridled Quail-dove, Geotrygon mystacea
- Violaceous Quail-dove, Geotrygon violacea
- Ruddy Quail-dove, Geotrygon montana
- Blue-headed Quail Dove, Starnoenas cyanocephala
Genus Caloenas
- Nicobar Pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
- Luzon Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica
- Mindanao Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera (criniger is a spelling error in the description)
- Mindoro Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba platenae
- Negros Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba keayi
- Sulu Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba menagei
- Cinnamon Ground Dove, Gallicolumba rufigula
- Sulawesi Ground Dove, Gallicolumba tristigmata
- White-bibbed Ground Dove, Gallicolumba jobiensis
- Caroline Ground Dove, Gallicolumba kubaryi
- Polynesian Ground Dove, Gallicolumba erythroptera
- White-throated Ground Dove, Gallicolumba xanthonura
- Friendly Ground Dove, Gallicolumba stairi
- Tanna Ground Dove, Gallicolumba ferruginea (extinct)
- Santa Cruz Ground Dove, Gallicolumba sanctaecrucis
- Thick-billed Ground Dove, Gallicolumba salamonis (extinct)
- Marquesas Ground Dove, Gallicolumba rubescens
- Bronze Ground Dove, Gallicolumba beccarii
- Palau Ground Dove, Gallicolumba canifrons
- Wetar Ground Dove, Gallicolumba hoedtii
- Norfolk Island Ground Dove, Gallicolumba norfolciensis (extinct)
Genus Trugon
- Thick-billed Ground Pigeon, Trugon terrestris
Genus Microgoura
- Choiseul Pigeon, Microgoura meeki (probably extinct)
Subfamily Otidiphabinae - pheasant pigeon
Genus Otidiphaps- Pheasant Pigeon, Otidiphaps nobilis
Subfamily Gourinae - crowned pigeons
Genus Goura crowned pigeons
- Western Crowned Pigeon, Goura cristata
- Southern Crowned Pigeon, Goura scheepmakeri
- Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Goura victoria
Subfamily Didunculinae - tooth-billed pigeon
Genus Didunculus- Tooth-billed Pigeon, Didunculus strigirostris
Subfamily Treroninae - green & fruit doves
Genus Phapitreron- White-eared Brown Dove, Phapitreron leucotis
- Amethyst Brown Dove, Phapitreron amethystina
- Dark-eared Brown Dove, Phapitreron cinereiceps
Genus Treron green pigeons
- Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon, Treron fulvicollis
- Little Green Pigeon, Treron olax
- Pink-necked Green Pigeon, Treron vernans
- Orange-breasted Green Pigeon, Treron bicincta
- Pompadour Green Pigeon, Treron pompadora
- Thick-billed Green Pigeon, Treron curvirostra
- Grey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Treron griseicauda
- Sumba Green Pigeon, Treron teysmannii
- Flores Green Pigeon, Treron floris
- Timor Green Pigeon, Treron psittacea
- Large Green Pigeon, Treron capellei
- Yellow-footed Green Pigeon, Treron phoenicoptera
- Bruce's Green Pigeon, Treron waalia
- Madagascar Green Pigeon, Treron australis
- African Green Pigeon, Treron calva
- Pemba Green Pigeon, Treron pembaensis
- Sao Tome Green Pigeon, Treron sanctithomae
- Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Treron apicauda
- Sumatran Green Pigeon, Treron oxyura
- Yellow-vented Green Pigeon, Treron seimundi
- Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Treron sphenura
- White-bellied Green Pigeon, Treron sieboldii
- Whistling Green Pigeon, Treron formosae
Genus Ptilinopus, fruit doves
- Black-backed Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus cinctus
- Black-banded Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus alligator
- Red-naped Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus dohertyi
- Pink-headed Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus porphyreus
- Flame-breasted Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus marchei
- Cream-bellied Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus merrilli
- Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus occipitalis
- Red-eared Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus fischeri
- Jambu Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus jambu
- Maroon-chinned Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus subgularis
- Black-chinned Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus leclancheri
- Scarlet-breasted Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus bernsteinii
- Wompoo Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus magnificus
- Pink-spotted Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus perlatus
- Ornate Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus ornatus
- Tanna Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus tannensis
- Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus aurantiifrons
- Wallace's Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus wallacii
- Superb Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus superbus
- Many-coloured Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus perousii
- Purple-capped Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus porphyraceus
- Palau Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus pelewensis
- Rarotonga Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus rarotongensis
- Mariana Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus roseicapilla
- Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus regina
- Silver-capped Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus richardsii
- Grey-green Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus purpuratus
- Makatea Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus chalcurus
- Atoll Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus coralensis
- Red-bellied Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus greyii
- Rapa Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus huttoni
- White-capped Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus dupetithouarsii
- Red-moustached Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus mercierii
- Henderson Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus insularis
- Coroneted Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus coronulatus
- Beautiful Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus pulchellus
- Blue-capped Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus monacha
- White-bibbed Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus rivoli
- Yellow-bibbed Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus solomonensis
- Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus viridis
- White-headed Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus eugeniae
- Orange-bellied Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus iozonus
- Knob-billed Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus insolitus
- Grey-headed Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus hyogaster
- Carunculated Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus granulifrons
- Black-naped Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus melanospila
- Dwarf Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus nanus
- Negros Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus arcanus
- Orange Dove, Ptilinopus victor
- Golden Dove, Ptilinopus luteovirens
- Whistling Dove, Ptilinopus layardi
- Cloven-feathered Dove, Drepanoptila holosericea
Genus Alectroenas blue pigeons
- Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas madagascariensis
- Comoro Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas sganzini
- Seychelles Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas pulcherrima
- Mauritius Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima (extinct)
- Rodrigues Pigeon Alectroenas rodericana (extinct)
Genus Ducula imperial pigeons
- Pink-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula poliocephala
- White-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula forsteni
- Mindoro Imperial Pigeon, Ducula mindorensis
- Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula radiata
- Grey-necked Imperial Pigeon, Ducula carola
- Green Imperial Pigeon, Ducula aenea
- White-eyed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula perspicillata
- Blue-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula concinna
- Pacific Imperial Pigeon, Ducula pacifica
- Micronesian Imperial Pigeon, Ducula oceanica
- Polynesian Imperial Pigeon, Ducula aurorae
- Nukuhiva Imperial Pigeon, Ducula galeata
- Red-knobbed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula rubricera
- Spice Imperial Pigeon, Ducula myristicivora
- Purple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula rufigaster
- Cinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula basilica
- Finsch's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula finschii
- Shinning Imperial Pigeon, Ducula chalconota
- Island Imperial Pigeon, Ducula pistrinaria
- Pink-headed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula rosacea
- Christmas Imperial Pigeon, Ducula whartoni
- Grey Imperial Pigeon, Ducula pickeringii
- Peale's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula latrans
- Chestnut-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula brenchleyi
- Vanuatu Imperial Pigeon, Ducula bakeri
- New Caledonian Imperial Pigeon, Ducula goliath
- Pinon's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula pinon
- Bismarck Imperial Pigeon, Ducula melanochroa
- Collared Imperial Pigeon, Ducula mullerii
- Zoe's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula zoeae
- Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Ducula badia
- Dark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula lacernulata
- Timor Imperial Pigeon, Ducula cineracea
- Pied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula bicolor
- Torresian Imperial Pigeon, Ducula spilorrhoa
- White Imperial Pigeon, Ducula luctuosa
Genus Lopholaimus
- Topknot Pigeon, Lopholaimus antarcticus
Genus Hemiphaga
- New Zealand Pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
Genus Cryptophaps
- Sombre Pigeon, Cryptophaps poecilorrhoa
Genus Gymnophaps, mountain pigeons
- Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Gymnophaps albertisii
- Long-tailed Mountain Pigeon, Gymnophaps mada
- Pale Mountain Pigeon, Gymnophaps solomonensis
Symbolism
- White doves, usually meaning domesticated Rock Pigeons, are a traditional Christian symbol of love and peace. A dove was supposed to have been released by Noah after the flood in order to find land; it came back carrying an olive branch, telling Noah that, somewhere, there was land. A dove with an olive branch has since then come to symbolize peace. In Christian iconography, a dove also symbolizes the Holy Spirit, in reference to Matthew 3:16 and Luke 3:22 where the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove at the Baptism of Jesus.
- Doves or other birds are sometimes released at Christian weddings. It should be noted that these birds, unless they are trained homing pigeons, cannot survive in the wild and will either starve to death or be easy prey for predators.
- Doves are often associated with the concept of peace and pacifism. They often appear in political cartoons, on banners and signs at events promoting peace (such as the Olympic games, at various anti-war/anti-violence protests, etc.), and in pacifist literature. A person who is a pacifist is sometimes referred to as a dove (similarly, in American politics, a person who advocates the use of military resources as opposed to diplomacy can be referred to as a hawk).
- Ironically, although sometimes ungratefully considered "pests" in big cities, common pigeons or Rock Pigeons have served humans in times of war as war pigeons, and have even been awarded war medals to honour their services to humanity. These include the carrier pigeons, Cher Ami, who received the French Croix de guerre for services during wartime, and who is now enshrined in the Smithsonian Institution, and G.I. Joe, who received the Dickin Medal for his role in preventing the bombing of an Italian village of over 1,000 people.
Doves as food
Several species of pigeon or dove are used as food, and probably any could be; the powerful breast muscles characteristic of the family make excellent meat. In Europe the Wood Pigeon is commonly shot as a game bird, while Rock Pigeons were originally domesticated as a food species, and many breeds were developed for their meat-bearing qualities. The extinction of the Passenger Pigeon was at least partly due to shooting for use as food.Trivia
- Doves can be trained and often are utilized in tricks and animal acts by magicians and showmen.
- In the United States, "dove" is sometimes used as a street name for cocaine. Ecstasy pills are also sometimes referred to as "doves", due to a well-known "brand" of pills featuring an embossed dove.
- Dove is a brand of American ice cream; their "Dove Bar", featuring a vanilla ice cream filling with a thin chocolate coating, is particularly well known.
- A "pigeon" is an English slang word to refer to an uneducated, naive, or unsophisticated person: one that is easily deceived or cheated by underhanded means. To be referred to as a "pigeon" or a "dupe" suggests unwariness in the person deluded — especially used in the slang language of gambling. Etymology: from Middle French duppe.
External links
- Dove Pictures and Links
- The Dove Page The Place on the Internet for Doves
- A selection of external links
- Pigeon Blog
- Dove videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- The Dove Page
- Pigeon and dove information
References
- A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba; Auk 118, 4 (2001): 874-887
See also
Related to doves
- Alphabetical species list
- Pigeon intelligence
- Discrimination abilities of pigeons
- Pigeon racing
- Pigeon sport
- Dovecote
- Exotic pigeons
- Homing pigeon
- Carrier pigeon
- War pigeon
- Cher Ami
Related to symbolism
Miscellaneous
columbidae | Heraldic birds | Peace symbols
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"Dove"