Other Definitions
dove (dict)

Dove

''Pigeon redirects here. For alternate uses see Pigeon (disambiguation)''
Alternate meaings include River Dove, Dove (crater), and Dove (soap)
Subfamily Columbinae
Columba
Nesoenas
Streptopelia
Macropygia
Reinwardtoena
Turacoena
Turtur
Oena
Chalcophaps
Henicophaps
Phaps
Ocyphaps
Geophaps
Petrophassa
Geopelia
Leucosarcia
Zenaida
Ectopistes (extinct)
Columbina
Claravis
Metropelia
Scardafella
Uropelia
Leptotila
Geotrygon
Starnoenas
Caloenas
Gallicolumba
Trugon
Microgoura (extinct?)

Subfamily Otidiphabinae
Otidiphaps

Subfamily Gourinae
Goura

Subfamily Didunculinae
Didunculus

Subfamily Treroninae
Phapitreron
Treron
Ptilinopus
Drepanoptila
Alectroenas
Ducula
Lopholaimus
Hemiphaga
Cryptophaps
Gymnophaps The doves are the 308 species of near passerine birds in the order Columbiformes, hence the adjective columbine refers to something being dove-like. 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 poorly constructed 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'.

Symbolism

White doves are a traditional 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 the Baptism of Jesus where the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove. In politics the name "dove" is sometimes applied to figures who favour peaceful solutions to problems as opposed to "hawks", who favour aggressive action.

Classification & species list

  • ORDER COLUMBIFORMES
    • Family Raphidae dodos
    • Family Columbidae
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 Genus Nesoenas Genus Streptopelia Genus Macropygia Genus Reinwardtoena Genus Turacoena Genus Turtur Genus Oena Genus Chalcophaps Genus Henicophaps Genus Phaps, bronzewing pigeons Genus Ocyphaps Genus Geophaps Genus Petrophassa, rock pigeons Genus Geopelia Genus Leucosarcia Genus Zenaida Genus Ectopistes Genus Columbina Ground Doves Genus Claravis Genus Metropelia Genus Scardafella Genus Uropelia Genus Leptotila Genus Geotrygon, quail-doves Genus Starnoenas Genus Caloenas Genus Gallicolumba Genus Trugon Genus Microgoura

Subfamily Otidiphabinae - pheasant pigeon

Genus Otidiphaps

Subfamily Gourinae - crowned pigeons

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 Drepanoptila Genus Alectroenas blue pigeons Genus Ducula imperial pigeons Genus Lopholaimus Genus Hemiphaga Genus Cryptophaps Genus Gymnophaps, mountain pigeons

See also

External links

 

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