Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Pigeons and doves belong to one bird family that includes Mourning Doves at feeders, Rock Pigeons on city ledges, fruit-eating forest pigeons, and small ground doves. Both parents make a nutrient-rich food called in the pouch where they store food, then feed it to newly hatched young.

In this group

Mourning DoveZenaida macroura

Common across the continent in open country and neighborhoods; its long pointed tail and soft, drawn-out coo are strong clues.

Rock PigeonColumba livia

Introduced and now common in U.S. cities, farms, and under bridges; plumage ranges from blue-gray to white, red, black, or .

Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto

An introduced dove now spread across much of the country; look for a pale body, square tail, and narrow black neck collar.

White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica

Common in towns across the southern United States; a white stripe flashes across each wing in flight.

Band-tailed PigeonPatagioenas fasciata

A native forest pigeon of the Pacific Coast and Southwest; it has a pale tail band and a white crescent on the neck.

Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis

An introduced dove of Hawaii and Southern California; the broad black neck patch covered with white spots is its best field mark.

Zebra DoveGeopelia striata

An introduced and common town bird in Hawaii; it is small and long-tailed, with fine dark bars across the neck and sides.

Appearance

How to recognize it: Most have a plump body, small head, short bill, and strong pointed wings. Many walk on the ground to feed, then burst into fast direct flight when disturbed.
Voice: Low coos are typical, but rhythm, pitch, and length differ enough to help separate species.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: towns and farms
open woodland
desert scrub and forests
Range: Pigeons and doves occur throughout the United States. Mourning Doves are widespread, Rock Pigeons center on built areas, White-winged Doves are especially familiar in the South, and Band-tailed Pigeons belong to western forests.
Seasonal presence: Some species stay year-round, while others migrate or make seasonal movements as food changes.
When it’s recorded: Recorded year-round, every year · most records in Apr
291,749 observations in the US · 10 years · for referenceChoose a state

Behavior

Diet: Many temperate species eat mostly seeds and grain, while numerous tropical and forest pigeons specialize on fruit.
Social life: Some live mainly as pairs, and others gather in flocks at feeding or roosting sites. Rock Pigeons can form large city flocks where ledges imitate natural cliffs.

Life cycle

Nest: Many species make a loose, shallow platform of twigs in a tree, shrub, or on a ledge. Rock Pigeons also nest on buildings, bridges, barns, and cliffs.
Clutch size: Most pigeons and doves lay one or two eggs at a time.
Incubation: Both parents incubate the eggs. They make milk in the crop lining and feed it to newly hatched young.

Name and classification

About the name: Rock Pigeon, Columba livia, includes the wild ancestral form and domestic descendants. Most city pigeons are descendants of domesticated birds rather than unchanged wild Rock Pigeons.
Group name: Pigeon and dove do not mark two separate groups. “Dove” often means a smaller, slimmer bird, but the names are used inconsistently.
Number of species: The family includes more than 300 species worldwide.
Varieties and forms: Feral Rock Pigeons can be blue-gray with two wing bars, checkered, black, rusty red, white, or pied because of their domestic ancestry.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: People have used the homing ability of domestic pigeons to carry messages, including military messages during the world wars.
The once-abundant Passenger Pigeon went extinct.

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