There are 310 different species of pigeons and doves.

Pigeons and doves are likely the most common birds in the world.

They are distributed everywhere on Earth, except for the driest areas of the Sahara Desert, Antarctica
and its surrounding islands, and the high Arctic.

They live in almost all types of terrestrial habitats from desert to dense forest and large urban areas

Pigeons will live for a relatively long period of time, generally about 10 to 12 years with some living quite
a bit longer.

In general, the terms “dove” and “pigeon” are used somewhat interchangeably. Pigeon is a French word
that derives from the Latin pipio, for a “peeping” chick, while dove is a Germanic word that refers to the
bird’s diving flight.

The smaller species are often called doves and the larger species pigeons, but this is in no way
consistently applied, and historically, the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation
between the terms. For example the species most commonly referred to as “pigeon” is the rock

dove, one subspecies of which, the domestic pigeon, is common in many cities as the feral pigeon.

Pigeons and doves exhibit considerable variations in size, ranging in length from 15 to 75 centimeters
(5.9 to 29.5 in), and in weight from 22 g (0.049 lb) to above 2,000 g (4.4 lb).

Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks, and short slender bills.
The wings are large, having 11 primary feathers, and have low wing-loadings; pigeons and doves have
strong wing muscles and are among the strongest fliers of all birds; they are also highly manoeuvrable in
flight.

The plumage of the family is variable. Many of the seed-eating species are buff, grey and brown colors,
while the fruit-eaters are often more brightly colored. Many have ornamentation and iridescent feathers
on the neck, breast, back, wings and face.

They range from sexually monomorphic to sexually dimorphic (condition where the two sexes of the
same species exhibit different characteristics) , and molt annually after breeding.

Pigeons and doves can be solitary to very social and can be found in flocks of several thousand.

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Dominance hierarchies occur in flocks. Many species roost communally at night (pigeons and doves are
diurnal).

Some species are sedentary, and others are migratory. Some are nomadic and move as their food supply
changes, and some make altitudinal movements as seasons change.

Seeds and fruit form the major component of the diets of pigeons and doves. In fact, the family can be
divided into the seed-eating or granivorous species and the fruit-and-mast-eating or frugivorous species.
In addition to fruit and seeds, a number of other food items are taken by many species including insects,
snails, worms, lizards, leaves, buds and flowers.

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Grainivorous species need to drink a lot of water in order to digest seeds.

Desert species get their water from succulent plants and have the ability to drink saline water.

Pigeons and doves are excellent navigators and use both the magnetic field of the planet and the
position of the sun to find their way. A study at Oxford University found that they will also use landmarks
as signposts and will travel along man-made roads and motorways, even changing direction at junctions.

Pigeons and doves have a variety of songs and calls that they use to find mates, signal danger, and
defend territories.

While many pigeon and dove species are lifelong mates, some mate only for a breeding season.
However, they are monogamous while they are together.

a pair of pigeons

Breeding is triggered by food availability and photoperiod and can be seasonal or year-round, depending
on the species.

Some species breed colonially, some solitarily. The males bring nest material to the females who build
the nest.

Clutch size is usually one to two eggs (occasionally three). Incubation lasts 11 to 30 days. Both males and
females incubate, but females usually spend more time incubating than males. Chicks are fed by both
parents. Unlike most birds, both sexes of pigeons and doves produce “crop milk” to feed to their young,
secreted by a sloughing of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Chicks leave the nest after 10 to 36
days. Young doves and pigeons are called “squabs”.

Characteristics and Attributes:

Pigeons can fly at altitudes of 6000 feet or more

Pigeons can fly at average speeds of up to 77.6 mph but have been recorded flying at 92.5 mph

Pigeons can fly between 600 and 700 miles in a single day, with the longest recorded flight in the 19th
century taking 55 days between Africa and England and covering 7000 miles

Pigeons are thought to navigate by sensing the earth’s magnetic field and using the sun for direction.
Other theories include the use of roads and even low frequency seismic waves to find their way home

Pigeons (and all the columbidae family) drink by sucking water and using their beaks like straws. Most
birds sip water and then throw their head back to swallow

Pigeons, like humans, can see in colour, but unlike humans they can also see ultraviolet light, a part of
the spectrum that humans cannot see. As a result, pigeons are often used in search and rescue missions
at sea because of this unique sense combined with excellent all-round vision

Pigeons have been found to pass the ‘mirror test’, the ability to recognise its own reflection in a mirror.
The pigeon is one of only 6 species, and the only non-mammal, to have this ability

Pigeons are highly intelligent and can recognise all 26 letters of the alphabet as well as being able to
conceptualise. Pigeons can differentiate between photographs and even two different human beings in a
single photograph.

Breeds all year round with peak breeding periods in spring and summer

All columbiformes are monogamous (mate for life)

Wild birds breed on coastal cliffs and some inland cliffs

Feral birds breed on or in buildings, usually in urban areas

Flimsy nest built on rocky shelf (wild) or accessible ledge on a building or in the roof void of a building
(feral)

Two white eggs that are incubated by both parents for 17-19 days

The squab (chick) has yellow down and a pink bill

Squabs are fed on ‘crop milk’ by both parents

Fledging period is approximately 30 days depending on time of year

Pigeons can breed at 6 months of age