WORLD ▫ NORTH AMERICA ▫ GUADALOUPE
▫ PIGEON
Pigeons and doves comprise the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, including some 300 species of near passerine birds. 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. The young doves and pigeons are called "squabs." Systematics and evolution
This family is a highly coherent group with no members showing obvious links with other bird families, or vice versa. The dodo and solitaires are clearly related, as discussed below, but equally lacking in obvious links with other bird families. The limited fossil record also consists only of unequivocal Columbidae species. Links to the sandgrouse and parrots have been suggested, but resemblances to the first group are due to convergent evolution and the second depend on the parrot-like features of the Tooth-billed Pigeon. However, the distinctive features of that bird seem to have arisen from its specialized diet rather than a real relationship to the parrots. 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. 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 analyzes 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, 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. As the Dodo and Rodrigues Solitaire are in all likelihood part of the Indo-Australian radiation that produced the 3 small subfamilies mentioned above with the fruit-doves and -pigeons (including the Nicobar Pigeon), they are here included as a subfamily Raphinae, pending better material evidence of their exact relationships. Exacerbating these issues, columbids are not well represented in the fossil record. No truly 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 & dovesGenus Columba including Aplopelia - Old World pigeons (33-34 living species, 2-3 recently extinct) Genus Streptopelia including Stigmatopelia and Nesoenas - turtledoves (14-18 living species) Genus Patagioenas - American pigeons; formerly included in Columba (17 species) Genus MacropygiaBarred Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia unchallSlender-billed Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia amboinensisBrown Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia phasianellaCheeks Island Pigeon, Macropygia islalivsisDusky Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia magnaAndaman Cuckoo-dove, Macrodfgpygia rufipennisPhilippine Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia tenuirostrisRuddy Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia emilianaBlack-billed Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia nigrirostrisMackinlay's Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia mackinlayiLittle Cuckoo-dove, Macropygia ruficepsGenus Reinwardtoena (3 species) Genus Turacoena (2 species) Subfamily N.N. - Bronzewings and relativesGenus Turtur - African wood-doves (5 species; tentatively placed here) Genus Oena - Namaqua Dove (tentatively placed here) Genus Chalcophaps (2 species) Genus Henicophaps (2 species) Genus Phaps (3 species) Genus Ocyphaps - Crested Pigeon Genus Geophaps (3 species) Genus Petrophassa - rock-pigeons (2 species) Genus Geopelia (3-5 species) Subfamily Leptotilinae - Zenaidine and quail-dovesGenus Zenaida (7 species) Genus Ectopistes - Passenger Pigeon (extinct; 1914) Genus LeptotilaWhite-tipped Dove, Leptotila verreauxiWhite-faced Dove, Leptotila megaluraGrey-fronted Dove, Leptotila rufaxillaGrey-headed Dove, Leptotila plumbeicepsPallid Dove, Leptotila pallidaBrown-backed Dove, Leptotila battyiGrenada Dove, Leptotila wellsiCaribbean Dove, Leptotila jamaicensisGrey-chested Dove, Leptotila cassiniOchre-bellied Dove, Leptotila ochraceiventrisTolima Dove, Leptotila conoveriGenus Geotrygon - quail-doves Purplish-backed Quail-dove, Geotrygon lawrenciiVeracruz Quail-dove, Geotrygon carrikeriCosta Rica Quail-dove, Geotrygon costaricensisRusset-crowned Quail-dove, Geotrygon goldmaniSapphire Quail-dove, Geotrygon saphirinaGrey-headed Quail-dove, Geotrygon caniceps* Hispaniolan Quail-dove, Geotrygon (caniceps} leucometopiusCrested Quail-dove, Geotrygon versicolorRufous-breasted Quail-dove, Geotrygon chiriquensisOlive-backed Quail-dove, Geotrygon veraguensisWhite-faced Quail-dove, Geotrygon albifaciesLined Quail-dove, Geotrygon linearisWhite-throated Quail-dove, Geotrygon frenataKey West Quail-dove, Geotrygon chrysiaBridled Quail-dove, Geotrygon mystaceaViolaceous Quail-dove, Geotrygon violaceaRuddy Quail-dove, Geotrygon MontanaGenus StarnoenasBlue-headed Quail-dove, Starnoenas cyanocephalaSubfamily Columbininae - American ground dovesGenus ColumbinaCommon Ground Dove, Columbina passerinaPlain-breasted Ground Dove, Columbina minutaEcuadorian Ground Dove, Columbina buckleyiRuddy Ground Dove, Columbina talpacotiPicui Dove, Columbina picuiCroaking Ground Dove, Columbina cruzianaBlue-eyed Ground Dove, Columbina cyanopisGenus ClaravisBlue Ground Dove, Claravis pretiosaPurple-winged Ground Dove, Claravis godefridaMaroon-chested Ground Dove, Claravis mondetouraGenus MetropeliaBare-faced Ground Dove, Metriopelia ceciliaeMoreno's Ground Dove, Metriopelia morenoiBlack-winged Ground Dove, Metriopelia melanopteraGolden-spotted Ground Dove, Metriopelia aymaraGenus Scardafella - possibly belongs into ColumbinaInca Dove, Scardafella incaScaled Dove, Scardafella squammataGenus UropeliaLong-tailed Ground Dove, Uropelia campestris...Subfamily N.N. - Indopacific ground dovesGenus Gallicolumba (16-17 living species, 3-4 recently extinct) Genus TrugonThick-billed Ground Pigeon, Trugon terrestrisSubfamily Otidiphabinae - Pheasant PigeonGenus Otidiphaps - Pheasant Pigeon Subfamily Didunculinae - Tooth-billed PigeonGenus DidunculusTooth-billed Pigeon, Didunculus strigirostrisTongan Tooth-billed Pigeon, Didunculus placopedetes - prehistoricSubfamily Gourinae - crowned pigeonsGenus GouraSubfamily N.N. ("Treroninae") - green and fruit-doves and imperial pigeonsSpice Imperial Pigeon, Ducula myristicivoraPurple-tailed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula rufigasterCinnamon-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula basilicaFinsch's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula finschiiShinning Imperial Pigeon, Ducula chalconotaIsland Imperial Pigeon, Ducula pistrinariaPink-headed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula rosaceaChristmas Imperial Pigeon, Ducula whartoniGrey Imperial Pigeon, Ducula pickeringiiPeale's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula latransChestnut-bellied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula brenchleyiVanuatu Imperial Pigeon, Ducula bakeriNew Caledonian Imperial Pigeon, Ducula goliathPinon's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula pinonBismarck Imperial Pigeon, Ducula melanochroaCollared Imperial Pigeon, Ducula mulleriiZoe's Imperial Pigeon, Ducula zoeaeMountain Imperial Pigeon, Ducula badiaDark-backed Imperial Pigeon, Ducula lacernulataTimor Imperial Pigeon, Ducula cineraceaPied Imperial Pigeon, Ducula bicolorTorresian Imperial Pigeon, Ducula spilorrhoaWhite Imperial Pigeon, Ducula luctuosaGenus Lopholaimus - Topknot Pigeon Genus HemiphagaKererū Hemiphaga novaseelandiaeParea Hemiphaga chathamensisGenus CryptophapsSombre Pigeon, Cryptophaps poecilorrhoaGenus Gymnophaps - mountain-pigeons Papuan Mountain Pigeon, Gymnophaps albertisiiLong-tailed Mountain Pigeon, Gymnophaps madaPale Mountain Pigeon, Gymnophaps solomonensisGenus Ptilinopus - fruit-doves (some 50 living species, 1-2 recently extinct) Genus Natunaornis - Viti Levu Giant Pigeon (prehistoric) Genus DrepanoptilaCloven-feathered Dove, Drepanoptila holosericeaGenus Alectroenas - blue pigeons Madagascar Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas madagascariensisComoro Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas sganziniSeychelles Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas pulcherrimaFarquhar Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas sp. (extinct)Mauritius Blue Pigeon, Alectroenas nitidissima (extinct)Rodrigues Pigeon "Alectroenas" rodericana (extinct; probably distinct genus)Subfamily Raphinae - didinesGenus Raphus - Dodo (extinct; late 17th century) Genus Pezophaps - Rodrigues Solitaire (extinct; c.1730) Placement unresolvedGenus CaloenasNicobar Pigeon, Caloenas nicobaricaGreater Maned Pigeon, Caloenas canacorum (prehistoric)Liverpool Pigeon, "Caloenas" maculata - extinct; probably distinct genusGenus Treron - green pigeons Cinnamon-headed Green Pigeon, Treron fulvicollisLittle Green Pigeon, Treron olaxPink-necked Green Pigeon, Treron vernansOrange-breasted Green Pigeon, Treron bicinctaPompadour Green Pigeon, Treron pompadoraThick-billed Green Pigeon, Treron curvirostraGrey-cheeked Green Pigeon, Treron griseicaudaSumba Green Pigeon, Treron teysmanniiFlores Green Pigeon, Treron florisTimor Green Pigeon, Treron psittaceaLarge Green Pigeon, Treron capelleiYellow-footed Green Pigeon, Treron phoenicopteraBruce's Green Pigeon, Treron waaliaMadagascar Green Pigeon, Treron australisAfrican Green Pigeon, Treron calvaPemba Green Pigeon, Treron pembaensisSao Tome Green Pigeon, Treron sanctithomaePin-tailed Green Pigeon, Treron apicaudaSumatran Green Pigeon, Treron oxyuraYellow-vented Green Pigeon, Treron seimundiWedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Treron sphenuraWhite-bellied Green Pigeon, Treron sieboldiiWhistling Green Pigeon, Treron formosaeGenus Phapitreron - brown doves White-eared Brown Dove, Phapitreron leucotisAmethyst Brown Dove, Phapitreron amethystinaDark-eared Brown Dove, Phapitreron cinereicepsGenus Leucosarcia - Wonga Pigeon Genus Microgoura - Choiseul Crested Pigeon (extinct; early 20th century) Genus DysmoropeliaSt Helena Flightless Pigeon, Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos (extinct)Genus indeterminate Henderson Island Archaic Pigeon, Columbidae gen. et sp. indet. (prehistoric)References
Gibbs, Barnes and Cox, Pigeons and Doves (Pica Press 2001) ISBN 1-873403-60-7Doves 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
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 who is easily deceived or cheated by underhanded means. Related to doves Alphabetical species listPigeon intelligenceDiscrimination abilities of pigeonsPigeon racingPigeon sportDovecoteFancy pigeonHoming pigeonCarrier pigeonWar pigeonCher Ami Related to symbolism Peace symbolPeace movementMilitarism Miscellaneous Pigeonhole principleClay pigeon 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 84-87334-22-9Johnson, 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 fulltextJohnson, 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 fulltextShapiro, 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. (HTML abstract) Supplementary informationFootnotes External links
International Dove SocietyThe American Dove AssociationCanadian Dove Associationcolumbidae.org.uk - an online resource for the conservation of pigeons and dovesDove Pictures and LinksThe Dove Page The Place on the Internet for DovesDove videos on the Internet Bird Collection
|
|
|
