Columbidae

For other uses, see Columbidae (disambiguation).

"pigeon" redirects here. For other uses, see pigeon (disambiguation).

Pigeons and Doves
File:Peaceful-Dove-223.jpg
Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae Illiger, 1811
Subfamily
Columbinae Otidiphabinae Gourinae Didunculinae Treroninae

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 Dove.

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 plantstuffs. 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):

Subfamily Columbinae - typical pigeons & doves

Genus Columba Typical pigeons

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

A Chequered Rock Dove in a city park (otherwise known as a feral pigeon).

• 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 Woodpigeon, Columba hodgsonii
• White-naped Pigeon, Columba albinucha
• Ashy Woodpigeon, Columba pulchricollis
• Nilgiri Woodpigeon, Columba elphinstonii

White-headed pigeon, "Columba leucomela".

• Sri Lanka Woodpigeon, Columba torringtoni
• Pale-capped Pigeon, Columba punicea
• Silvery Pigeon, Columba argentina (possibly extinct)
• Andaman Woodpigeon, Columba palumboides
• Japanese Woodpigeon, Columba janthina
• Bonin Wood Pigeon, Columba versicolor (extinct)
• Metallic Pigeon or White-throated Pigeon, Columba vitiensis
• White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucomela
• Ryukyu Pigeon, Columba jouyi (extinct)
• Yellow-legged Pigeon, Columba pallidiceps
• White-crowned Pigeon, Columba leucocephala
• Scaly-naped Pigeon, Columba squamosa
• Scaled Pigeon, Columba speciosa
• Picazuro Pigeon, Columba picazuro

Feral Pigeons in Krakow, Poland.

• 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
• Madagascar Pigeon, Columba picturata (formerly Streptopelia picturata)
• African Lemon-dove, Columba larvata
• Sao Tome Lemon-dove, Columba simplex

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

Genus Streptopelia

• Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
• Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
• Barbary Dove Streptopelia risoria (domesticated; taxonomic status doubtful)
• African Collared Dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea
• Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
• Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur
• Oriental Turtle Dove Streptopelia orientalis
• Dusky Turtle Dove, Streptopelia lugens
• Adamawa Turtle Dove, Streptopelia hypopyrrha
• Pink Pigeon, Streptopelia mayeri
• 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

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

File:DSC02593.JPG

Emerald Dove, Chalcophaps indica', native to Australia.

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

File:DSC02713.JPG

Wonga Pigeon, Leucosarcia melanoleuca, native to Australia.

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

Nestlings and mother Mourning Dove.

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

Genus Starnoenas

• Blue-headed Quail Dove, Starnoenas cyanocephala

Genus Caloenas

Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica).

• Nicobar Pigeon, Caloenas nicobarica

Genus Gallicolumba

• Luzon Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica

Luzon Bleeding-heart Pigeon Gallicolumba criniger, native to the Philipines.

• Mindanao Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba criniger
• 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

Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura victoria in a zoo aviary.

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

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

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.

• 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

File:NZ-pigeon.JPG

Kererū, New Zealand Pigeon.

• 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

See also

• Alphabetical species list
• Exotic pigeons
• peace symbol
• peace movement
• militarism
• Pigeon intelligence
• Homing pigeon
• Carrier pigeon
• Pigeon racing
• Pigeon sport
• War pigeon
• Cher Ami
• Clay pigeon
• Discrimination abilities of pigeons
• Dovecote

References

• Pigeon and dove information
• A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba; Auk 118, 4 (2001): 874-887

Other Meanings

• Doves often are given an association with homosexuality, particularly white doves. The association is derived from the notion of doves equaling peace, and the popular flag with peace symbol in front of the rainbow (a symbol adopted by the gay community). Calling someone dove is a derogitory term for "gayness" or being homosexual. Calling one "dove" is like calling someone "gay".
• Dove is sometimes (though rarely) used as a street name for cocaine.

External links

• A selection of external links
• Pigeon Blog