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Dove

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"Pigeon" redirects here. For , see .
Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University (2002)
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Pigeon beside Weiming Lake, Peking University (2002)

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

A Chequered Rock Pigeon  Columba livia in a city park (otherwise known as a feral pigeon).
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A Chequered Rock Pigeon Columba livia in a city park (otherwise known as a feral pigeon).

White-headed pigeon, Columba leucomela.
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White-headed pigeon, Columba leucomela.

Barbary Dove, Streptopelia risoria, native to South Africa.
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Barbary Dove, Streptopelia risoria, native to South Africa.

Genus Streptopelia

Genus Macropygia
Brown Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia phasianella.
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Brown Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia phasianella.

Genus Reinwardtoena Genus Turacoena Genus Turtur Genus Oena Genus Chalcophaps
Emerald Dove,  Chalcophaps indica, native to tropical southern Asia and Australia.
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Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica, native to tropical southern Asia and Australia.

Genus Henicophaps

Genus Phaps, bronzewing pigeons Genus Ocyphaps Genus Geophaps Genus Petrophassa, rock pigeons
Bar-shouldered Dove, Geopelia humeralis, native to Australia.
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Bar-shouldered Dove, Geopelia humeralis, native to Australia.

Genus Geopelia

Genus Leucosarcia
Wonga Pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca, native to Australia.
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Wonga Pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca, native to Australia.

Genus Zenaida

Nestlings and mother Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
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Nestlings and mother Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

Genus Ectopistes

Genus Columbina Ground Doves Genus Claravis Genus Metropelia Genus Scardafella Genus Uropelia Genus Leptotila
Nicobar Pigeon
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Nicobar Pigeon

Genus Geotrygon, quail-doves

Genus Starnoenas Genus Caloenas Genus Gallicolumba
Luzon Bleeding-heart Pigeon Gallicolumba criniger, native to the Philippines.
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Luzon Bleeding-heart Pigeon Gallicolumba criniger, native to the Philippines.

Genus Trugon Genus Microgoura

Subfamily Otidiphabinae - pheasant pigeon

Genus Otidiphaps

Subfamily Gourinae - crowned pigeons

Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria in a zoo aviary.
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Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria in a zoo aviary.

Genus Goura crowned pigeons

Subfamily Didunculinae - tooth-billed pigeon

Genus Didunculus

Subfamily Treroninae - green & fruit doves

Genus Phapitreron Genus Treron green pigeons Genus Ptilinopus, fruit doves Genus Alectroenas blue pigeons Genus Ducula imperial pigeons
Chestnut-naped Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea paulina. Other names for this bird are Celebes Imperial Pigeon, Celebes Green Imperial Pigeon and Green Imperial Pigeon.
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Chestnut-naped Imperial Pigeon Ducula aenea paulina. Other names for this bird are Celebes Imperial Pigeon, Celebes Green Imperial Pigeon and Green Imperial Pigeon.

Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor.
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Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor.

Kererū, New Zealand Pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae.
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Kererū, New Zealand Pigeon, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae.

Genus Lopholaimus

Genus Hemiphaga Genus Cryptophaps Genus Gymnophaps, mountain pigeons

Symbolism

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

A traditional pigeonhouse in Meybod, Yazd, Iran.
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A traditional pigeonhouse in Meybod, Yazd, Iran.

External links

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Related to doves

Related to symbolism

Miscellaneous

 


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