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Pigeons, Doves

The Columbidae family, encompassing all doves and pigeons, is the sole group within the Columbiformes order. These birds have stout bodies, short necks, and short, slender bills, with variations that include fleshy ceres in some species. Dove and pigeon species, which are found globally with the most diversity in the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, feed mainly on seeds, fruits, and plants. The family consists of 344 species across 50 genera, including 13 extinct species. While smaller species are often termed "doves" and larger ones "pigeons" in English, this distinction isn't consistent and doesn't apply in other languages. Familiar pigeons, like the widespread domestic pigeon, are known for nesting in simple structures and laying mostly one or two white eggs. Both parent birds care for the young, known as squabs, which fledge between 25 and 32 days. Pigeons and doves are unique among birds for producing crop milk to feed their young. The names "pigeon" and "dove" have distinct etymologies and have varied in common use historically. The Columbiformes, closely related to sandgrouses and mesites, are believed to have diversified rapidly after the Cretaceous. While taxonomic classifications, including five subfamilies, are still under debate due to genetic analysis discrepancies, it's suggested that pigeons originated in the Australasian region. Doves and pigeons vary greatly in size and appearance, inhabit different environments worldwide, and while many benefit from human presence, others decline or become extinct, such as the dodo and the passenger pigeon, due to habitat loss, predation, and hunting. Conservation efforts include laws, habitat protection, and breeding programs. Historically, pigeons have been used in wars as message carriers and are still commemorated for their service. Domestic species like the rock dove have been bred for various purposes, including racing and ornamental traits. In culture and religion, doves often symbolize love, peace, and the Holy Spirit, and are featured in Christianity, Islam, and portrayed as sacred in ancient mythology. They are also hunted and raised for food in many cultures around the world.

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African & New World Parrots
Albatrosses
Anhingas, Darters
Antbirds
Antpittas
Antthrushes
Auks
Austral Storm Petrels
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Black-capped Donacobius
Bushtits
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Cardinals & Allies
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Chats, Old World Flycatchers
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Cotingas
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Cuckoos
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Flamingos
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Gulls, Terns, Skimmers
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Mitrospingid Tanagers
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New World Quail
New World Sparrows
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Olive Warbler
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Oystercatchers
Parrotbills & Allies
Pelicans
Penduline Tits
Penguins
Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels
Pheasants & Allies

Pigeons, Doves

Plovers
Potoos
Puffbirds
Rails, Crakes & Coots
Sandpipers, Snipes
Sapayoa
Shrikes
Silky-flycatchers
Skuas
Spindalises
Starlings, Rhabdornis
Stilts, Avocets
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees
Storks
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Tanagers & Allies
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Thrushes
Thrush-tanager
Tinamous
Tits, Chickadees
Tityras, Becards, Sharpbill
Toucan Barbets
Toucans
Treecreepers
Trogons
Tropicbirds
Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers
Wagtails, Pipits
Waxbills, Munias & Allies
Waxwings
Woodpeckers
Wrens
Wrenthrush
Yellow-breasted Chat
A photo of a African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)

African Collared Dove

Streptopelia roseogrisea

Azuero Dove

Leptotila battyi
A photo of a Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)

Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas fasciata
A photo of a Blue Ground Dove (Claravis pretiosa) , male

Blue Ground Dove

Claravis pretiosa
A photo of a Buff-fronted Quail-Dove (Zentrygon costaricensis)

Buff-fronted Quail-Dove

Zentrygon costaricensis

Caribbean Dove

Leptotila jamaicensis
A photo of a Chiriqui Quail-Dove (Zentrygon chiriquensis)

Chiriqui Quail-Dove

Zentrygon chiriquensis
A photo of a Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto
A photo of a Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina) , male

Common Ground Dove

Columbina passerina

Dusky Pigeon

Patagioenas goodsoni
A photo of a Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)

Eared Dove

Zenaida auriculata

Grey-chested Dove

Leptotila cassinii

Grey-headed Dove

Leptotila plumbeiceps
A photo of a Inca Dove (Columbina inca)

Inca Dove

Columbina inca

Maroon-chested Ground Dove

Paraclaravis mondetoura
A photo of a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Olive-backed Quail-Dove

Leptotrygon veraguensis
A photo of a Pale-vented Pigeon (Patagioenas cayennensis)

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis
A photo of a Plain-breasted Ground Dove (Columbina minuta)

Plain-breasted Ground Dove

Columbina minuta

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea

Purplish-backed Quail-Dove

Zentrygon lawrencii

Red-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas flavirostris
A photo of a Rock Dove (Columba livia)

Rock Dove

Columba livia
A photo of a Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) , male

Ruddy Ground Dove

Columbina talpacoti
A photo of a Ruddy Pigeon (Patagioenas subvinacea)

Ruddy Pigeon

Patagioenas subvinacea
A photo of a Ruddy Quail-Dove (Geotrygon montana) , female

Ruddy Quail-Dove

Geotrygon montana

Russet-crowned Quail-Dove

Zentrygon goldmani

Scaled Pigeon

Patagioenas speciosa

Short-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas nigrirostris

Socorro Dove

Zenaida graysoni
A photo of a Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)

Spotted Dove

Spilopelia chinensis

Tuxtla Quail-Dove

Zentrygon carrikeri

Violaceous Quail-Dove

Geotrygon violacea
A photo of a White-crowned Pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala)

White-crowned Pigeon

Patagioenas leucocephala

White-faced Quail-Dove

Zentrygon albifacies
A photo of a White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi
A photo of a White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica
A photo of a Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita)

Zenaida Dove

Zenaida aurita
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Species Categories

African & New World ParrotsAlbatrossesAnhingas, DartersAntbirdsAntpittasAntthrushesAuksAustral Storm PetrelsBarn OwlsBlack-capped DonacobiusBushtitsCaracaras, FalconsCardinals & AlliesChachalacas, Curassows, GuansChats, Old World FlycatchersCormorants, ShagsCotingasCranesCrows, JaysCuckoosDippersDucks, Geese, SwansFinches, EuphoniasFinfootsFlamingosFrigatebirdsGannets, BoobiesGnatcatchersGnateatersGoldcrests, KingletsGrebesGulls, Terns, SkimmersHerons, BitternsHummingbirdsIbises, SpoonbillsJacamarsJacanasKingfishersKites, Hawks, EaglesLarksLeaf Warblers & AlliesLimpkinLongspurs, Snow BuntingsLoonsManakinsMitrospingid TanagersMockingbirds, ThrashersMotmotsNew World BarbetsNew World QuailNew World SparrowsNew World VulturesNew World WarblersNightjarsNorthern Storm PetrelsNuthatchesOilbirdOld World Sparrows, SnowfinchesOlive WarblerOropendolas, Orioles, BlackbirdsOspreysOvenbirdsOwlsOystercatchersParrotbills & AlliesPelicansPenduline TitsPenguinsPetrels, Shearwaters, Diving PetrelsPheasants & AlliesPigeons, DovesPloversPotoosPuffbirdsRails, Crakes & CootsSandpipers, SnipesSapayoaShrikesSilky-flycatchersSkuasSpindalisesStarlings, RhabdornisStilts, AvocetsStone-curlews, Thick-kneesStorksSunbitternSwallows, MartinsSwiftsTanagers & AlliesTapaculosThrushesThrush-tanagerTinamousTits, ChickadeesTityras, Becards, SharpbillToucan BarbetsToucansTreecreepersTrogonsTropicbirdsTyrant Flycatchers, CalypturaVireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblersWagtails, PipitsWaxbills, Munias & AlliesWaxwingsWoodpeckersWrensWrenthrushYellow-breasted Chat

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