Birds Guide

Pigeons and Doves
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia   Phylum: Chordata   Class: Aves   Order: Columbiformes   Family: Columbidae
subfamily
see article text

Pigeons and doves are some 300 species of near passerine birds in the order Columbiformes. In general parlance the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically the common names for these birds involve much variation between "dove" and "pigeon".

The species commonly referred to just as the "pigeon" is the feral Rock Pigeon, common in many cities.

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 dodo. The young doves and pigeons are called "squabs".

Contents 1 Systematics and evolution 1.1 Subfamily Columbinae - typical pigeons & doves 1.2 Subfamily N.N. - Bronzewings and relatives 1.3 Subfamily Leptotilinae - Zenaidine and quail doves 1.4 Subfamily Columbininae - American ground doves 1.5 Subfamily N.N. - Indopacific ground doves 1.6 Subfamily Otidiphabinae - Pheasant Pigeon 1.7 Subfamily Didunculinae - tooth-billed pigeon 1.8 Subfamily Gourinae - crowned pigeons 1.9 Subfamily N.N. ("Treroninae") - green and fruit doves and imperial pigeons 1.10 Placement unresolved 2 Symbolism 3 Doves as food 4 Trivia 5 External links 6 References 6.1 Footnotes 7 See also 7.1 Related to doves 7.2 Related to symbolism 7.3 Miscellaneous

Systematics and evolution

The family is usually divided into five subfamilies, but this is probably inaccurate. For example, the American ground and quail doves which are usually placed in the Columbinae seem to be two distinct subfamilies^[1]. The order presented here follows Baptista et al. (1997) with some updates (Johnson & Clayton, 2000; Johnson et al., 2001; Shapiro et al., 2002)...

Note that the arrangement of genera and naming of subfamilies is in some cases provisional because analyses of different DNA sequences yield results that differ, often radically, in the placement of certain (mainly Indo-Australian) genera. This ambiguity, probably caused by Long branch attraction, on the other hand seems to confirm that the first pigeons evolved in the Australasian region, and that the "Treronidae" and allied forms (crowned and pheasant pigeons, for example) represent the earliest radiation of the group.

Exacerbating these issues, columbids are not well represented in the fossil record. No really primitive forms have been found to date. The genus Gerandia which most likely belongs to the Columbinae has been described from Early Miocene deposits of France. Apart from that, all other fossils belong to extant genera. For these, and for the considerable number of more recently extinct prehistoric species, see the respective genus accounts.

Subfamily Columbinae - typical pigeons & doves

Genus Columba (Old World pigeons)

• Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
  • Domestic pigeon or feral pigeon, Columba livia domestica
• Stock Pigeon, Columba oenas
  Trocaz Pigeon, Columba trocaz
  Bolle's Pigeon, Columba bollii
  Laurel Pigeon, Columba junoniae
  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

• 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 (turtledoves)

• Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis (may be distinct genus Stigmatopelia)
  Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis (may be distinct genus 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 (may be distinct genus Nesoenas)
  Rodrigues Turtle Dove, Streptopelia rodericana (extinct; may be distinct genus Nesoenas)
  Pink Pigeon, Streptopelia mayeri (may be distinct genus Nesoenas)
  Réunion Pink Pigeon, Streptopelia duboisi (extinct; may be distinct genus Nesoenas)

Genus Patagioenas (American pigeons; formerly included in Columba)

• White-crowned Pigeon, Patagioenas leucocephala
  Scaly-naped Pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa
  Scaled Pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa
  Picazuro Pigeon, Patagioenas picazuro
  Bare-eyed Pigeon, Patagioenas corensis
  Spot-winged Pigeon, Patagioenas maculosa
  Band-tailed Pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata
  Chilean Pigeon, Patagioenas araucana
  Ring-tailed Pigeon, Patagioenas caribaea
  Pale-vented Pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis
  Red-billed Pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris
  Peruvian Pigeon, Patagioenas oenops
  Plain Pigeon, Patagioenas inornata
  Plumbeous Pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea
  Ruddy Pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea
  Short-billed Pigeon, Patagioenas nigrirostris
  Dusky Pigeon, Patagioenas goodsoni

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

Subfamily N.N. - Bronzewings and relatives

Genus Turtur (African wood doves; subfamily assignment unclear)

• 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 (subfamily assignment unclear)

• 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

• 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

Subfamily Leptotilinae - Zenaidine and quail doves

Genus Zenaida

• White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiatica
  Pacific Dove, Zenaida meloda
  Zenaida Dove, Zenaida aurita
  Galapagos Dove, Zenaida galapagoensis
  Eared Dove, Zenaida auriculata
  Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
  Socorro Dove, Zenaida graysoni (extinct in the wild)

Genus Ectopistes

• Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius (extinct)

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

Genus Starnoenas

• Blue-headed Quail-Dove, Starnoenas cyanocephala

Subfamily Columbininae - American ground doves

Genus Columbina

• 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...

Subfamily N.N. - Indopacific ground doves

Genus Gallicolumba

• 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 (possibly extinct)
  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

Subfamily Otidiphabinae - Pheasant Pigeon

Genus Otidiphaps

• Pheasant Pigeon, Otidiphaps nobilis

Subfamily Didunculinae - tooth-billed pigeon

Genus Didunculus

• Tooth-billed Pigeon, Didunculus strigirostris

Subfamily Gourinae - crowned pigeons

Genus Goura

• Western Crowned Pigeon, Goura cristata
  Southern Crowned Pigeon, Goura scheepmakeri
  Victoria Crowned Pigeon, Goura victoria

Subfamily N.N. ("Treroninae") - green and fruit doves and imperial pigeons

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

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 (extinct)
  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 (possibly extinct)
  Orange Dove, Ptilinopus victor
  Golden Dove, Ptilinopus luteovirens
  Whistling Dove, Ptilinopus layardi

Genus Natunaornis

• Viti Levu Giant Pigeon, Natunaornis gigoura (prehistoric)

Genus Drepanoptila

• Cloven-feathered Dove, Drepanoptila holosericea

Genus Alectroenas (blue pigeons)

• Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas madagascariensis
  Comoro Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas sganzini
  Seychelles Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas pulcherrima
  Farquhar Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas sp. (extinct)
  Mauritius Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima (extinct)
  Rodrigues Pigeon "Alectroenas" rodericana (extinct; probably distinct genus)

Placement unresolved

Genus Caloenas

• Nicobar Pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica
  Liverpool Pigeon, "Caloenas" maculata (extinct; probably distinct genus)

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 Phapitreron (brown doves)

• White-eared Brown Dove, Phapitreron leucotis
  Amethyst Brown Dove, Phapitreron amethystina
  Dark-eared Brown Dove, Phapitreron cinereiceps

Genus Leucosarcia

• Wonga Pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Genus Microgoura

• Choiseul Pigeon, Microgoura meeki (extinct; subfamily assignment unclear)

Genus Dysmoropelia

• St Helena Flightless Pigeon, Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos (extinct)

Genus indeterminate

• Henderson Island Archaic Pigeon, Columbidae gen. et sp. indet. (prehistoric)

Symbolism

• White doves, usually meaning domesticated Rock Pigeons, are a traditional Christian and Jewish symbol of love and peace. According to the biblical story, a dove was 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 homing pigeon, 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.

Doves are Kosher, and they and Turtle Doves are the only birds that may be used for a Korban. Other Kosher birds may be eaten, but not brought as a Korban.

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.
• Dove is also a brand of soaps, deodorants skin care and hair care products, manufactured by Unilever.
• 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

• columbidae.org.uk - an online resource for the conservation of pigeons and doves
• 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
• Pigeon and dove information
• Some squab recipes
• Pigeon and Dove info

References

• Baptista, L. F.; Trail, P. W. & Horblit, H. M. (1997): Order Columbiformes. In: del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors): Handbook of birds of the world, Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-22-9
• Johnson, Kevin P. & Clayton, Dale H. (2000): Nuclear and Mitochondrial Genes Contain Similar Phylogenetic. Signal for Pigeons and Doves (Aves: Columbiformes). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 14(1): 141–151. PDF fulltext
• Johnson, Kevin P.; de Kort, Selvino; Dinwoodey, Karen, Mateman, A. C.; ten Cate, Carel; Lessells, C. M. & Clayton, Dale H. (2001): A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba. Auk 118(4): 874-887. PDF fulltext
• Shapiro, Beth; Sibthorpe, Dean; Rambaut, Andrew; Austin, Jeremy; Wragg, Graham M.; Bininda-Emonds, Olaf R. P.; Lee, Patricia L. M. & Cooper, Alan (2002): Flight of the Dodo. Science 295: 1683. DOI:10.1126/science.295.5560.1683 (HTML abstract) Supplementary information

Footnotes

1. ^ Basically, the conventional treatment had 2 large subfamilies, one for the fruit-doves, imperial pigeons and fruit-pigeons, and another for nearly all of the remaining species. Additionally, there were 3 monotypic subfamilies, one each for the genera Goura, Otidiphaps and Didunculus. The old subfamily Columbinae consists of 5 distinct lineages, whereas the other 4 groups are more or less accurate representations of the evolutionary relationships.

See also

Related to doves

• Homing pigeon
• Carrier pigeon