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Dove

Pigeons and Doves

Peaceful Dove.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Columbiformes
Family:Columbidae
Genera
 Many: see text.
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

Species are:

Genus Columba Typical doves

Genus Streptopelia Genus Zenaida Genus Columbina Ground Doves Genus Leptotila Genus Gallicolumba Genus Geotrygon, quail-doves Genus Ptilinopus, fruit doves Genus Nesoenas Genus ''Macropygia'\' Genus Reinwardtoena Genus Turacoena Genus Turtur Genus Oena Genus Chalcophaps Genus Petrophassa, rock pigeons Genus Geopelia Genus Leucosarcia Genus Claravis Genus Metropelia Genus Scardafella Genus Uropelia Genus Starnoenas Genus Caloenas

Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica).
Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria).

Genus Trugon Genus Otidiphaps Genus Goura crowned pigeons Genus Didunculus Genus Phapitreron Genus Treron green pigeons Genus Drepanoptila Genus Alectroenas blue pigeons 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.

Genus Lopholaimus Genus Hemiphaga Genus Cryptophaps Genus ''Gymnophaps', mountain pigeons Genus Ectopistes Bronzewing pigeons

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, then, has come to symbolize peace.

In politics the name "dove" is sometimes applied to figures who favour peaceful solutions to problems as opposed to "hawks" who favour aggressive action.

See also peace movement, militarism

See also Pigeon intelligence, and River Dove for the river.