Columbidae - Pigeons and doves |
The family Columbidae includes the pigeons and doves known collectively as columbines. Classifed into 42 genera and 310 species, they are largely fruit and seed eaters. Widely distributed, they are only absent from Antarctica. The larger columbines are regularly hunted for food. Indeed, hunting may have been partially responsible for the extinction of the passenger pigeon, often considered to be the most abundant bird in North America with a population in the billions. We know for sure that hunting extirpated both the Rodrigues solitaire and the Mauritian dodo. These flightless pigeons were enormous, standing 3 feet tall and weighing 10.6 - 17.5 kg (23-39 lbs). Their closest living relative is the Nicobar pigeon (below). Pigeons are renowned for their very flimsy nests - a problem sometimes for those that nest in treess but not for the ground nesters. They typically lay one or two eggs. The hatchlings, now known as squabs, are raised on a diet of "crop milk" for the first week or so and then progress to a diet of "adult food" which is also softened in the crop. Crop milk, a suspension of cells that have sloughed off from the lining of the crop, is higher in both fat and protein and either human or cow's milk. Columbines range from sparrow size to small turkey size. Some, most notably the Fijian Chrysoenas and Ptilinopus fruit doves, are brightly colored.
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Caloenas nicobarica - Nicobar Pigeon |
Caloenas nicobarica - Nicobar Pigeon, photographed at the Denver Zoo. |
Caloenas nicobarica - Nicobar Pigeon, photographed at the Denver Zoo. |
Chalcophaps indica - Emerald ground dove |
Chalcophaps indica - Emerald ground dove with chick (squab) photographed in Sydney, Australia. |
Chrysoenas luteovirens - Golden dove |
Chrysoenas luteovirens - Male golden dove. Photographic opportunity courtesy of Kula Eco Park, Fiji. |
Chrysoenas luteovirens - Male golden dove. Photographic opportunity courtesy of Kula Eco Park, Fiji. |
Chrysoenas victor Orange dove |
BIRD 0971 Chrysoenas victor, Orange dove, Naibogiono, Taveuni, Fiji |
Chrysoenas victor - Male orange dove photographed on Qamea Island, Fiji. |
Chrysoenas victor - Male orange dove. Photographic opportunity courtesy of Kula Eco Park, Fiji. |
Chrysoenas victor - Male orange dove horizontal. Photographic opportunity courtesy of Kula Eco Park, Fiji. |
Chrysoenas victor - Male orange dove. Photographic opportunity courtesy of Kula Eco Park, Fiji. |
Columba leucomela White-headed pigeon |
BIRD 7003 Columba leucomela White-headed pigeon, Australia |
Columba vitiensis - White throated pigeon |
Columba vitiensis white-throated pigeon. Photographed at the Kula Eco Park, Fiji. |
Columbina passerina Common ground dove |
BIRD UD6A9603 Columbina passerina Common ground dove, Surama, Guyana |
Columbina subvinacea Ruddy pigeon |
BIRD 4251 Columbina subvinacea Ruddy pigeon, Arenal volcano, Costa Rica |
Ducula pacifica - Pacific pigeon |
Ducula pacifica Pacific pigeon photographed on Vatulele Isand, Fiji. |
Ducula spilorrhoa Torres Strait pigeon |
BIRD 7006 Ducula spilorrhoa Torres Strait pigeon, captive. |
Gallicolumba bartletti - Bartlett's bleeding heart dove |
Gallicolumba bartletti - Bartlett's bleeding heart dove. Captive, Denver Zoo. |
Geopelia humeralis Bar-shouldered Dove |
BIRD7019 Geopelia humeralis Bar-shouldered Dove captive Australia |
Geopelia placida Peaceful dove |
BIRD 7052 Geopelia placida Peaceful dove, Australia. |
Goura cristata - Common crowned crowned pigeon |
Goura cristata - Common crowned crowned pigeon. Captive, Fort Worth Zoo. |
Goura cristata - Common crowned crowned pigeon. Captive, Fort Worth Zoo. |
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae - Kereru New Zealand pigeon |
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae - Kereru New Zealand pigeon photographed on Ulva Island. |
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae - Kereru New Zealand pigeon. Orana Park, Christchurch. |
Ocyphaps lophotes Crested pigeon |
BIRD 7105 Ocyphaps lophotes Crested pigeon, Brisbane Botanic Gardens |
Otidiphaps nobilis - Green-naped pheasant pigeon |
Otidiphaps nobilis Green-naped pheasant pigeon, Denver Zoo. |
Ptilinopus perousii - Many-colored fruit dove |
Female Ptilinopus perousii Many-colored fruit dove, Fiji. |
BIRD 4359 Ptilinopus perousii Many colored fruit dove male, Naibogiono, Taveuni |
Ptilinopus pulchellus - Beautiful fruit dove |
Ptilinopus pulchellus Beautiful fruit dove, Denver Zoo. |
Zenaida asiatica White winged dove |
BIRD 8098 Zenaida asiatica White winged dove captive Fort Worth Zoo. Despite the species name this is a North American native. |
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