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Sunday, January 30, 2005
Not the same but the same
A search today revealed that I was wrong. Well, somewhat wrong. Doves and Pigeons are the same, even though they are not the same… somewhat. Though no matter how hard I searched, nobody made any comments on the different SOUNDS they make, i.e. as I perceived them making: city pigeons as I know them from Europe make a distinctly different sounds than the doves/pigeons I find on our deck and yard, which led me in the first place to make a distinction between the two. But seemingly that is something that only I hear and/or notice.
Here the best reference data I found, first short and to the point:
LoveDoves FAQ and Release Policy : Question : What is the difference between pigeons and doves? Pigeons are biologically part of the dove family and are actually descendents of the ancient Rock Dove. The dove is smaller than the pigeon and does not have the ability nor instinct to fly home.
Here a little bit more detailed:
Doves and Pigeons as Pets : By PH Budgie : Doves and pigeons, domesticated for thousands of years, have been used in the past as sacrifices to gods, raised for food and kept as pets. Pigeons have carried messages across battlefields and from town to town, been couriers of news from distant relatives or reporters, and transported vital medications to dying people. Nowadays tame pigeons are still used to carry messages, but more commonly are raised for racing, meat, scientific experimentation and “white dove” releases at weddings. A few species of doves are raised as pets and the white Ringneck Doves are often used in magic shows. Wild dove and pigeon hunting is still a popular sport. Over 300 species of the family Columbidae, the classification name for doves and pigeons, exist in the world. The United States has nine native and four introduced species of doves or pigeons.
The difference between doves and pigeons is mostly size. Doves are generally sleeker and smaller with pointed tails, while pigeons are larger and stockier with rounded tails. The common urban pigeon is also known as a “Rock Dove.” The popular white dove releases at various celebrations are billed as “dove” releases, but ethical companies always use white homing pigeons, as they return home.
And here an even more technical blurb:
Vertebrata: Birds: Columbiformes : Doves & Pigeons : There are 41 groups of doves & pigeons under the order: COLUMBIFORMES. This family represents over 300 species. The doves & pigeons are predominantly granivorous (grains/seeds) or frugivorous (fruits). Many of species also consume leaves, flowers, buds, worms, snails & insect larvae.
The terms “doves”&”pigeons” can be interchangeable for any of the species. There is no difference between the two. The larger members of the family Columbidae are usually referred to as the “pigeons”& the smaller members are referred to as “doves”. There is no set “size” which is the defining size to use either term. The Victoria Crowned Pigeon can be called the world’s largest “dove”& likewise the Diamond Dove can be called the world’s smallest “pigeon”.
The true wild specie of “rock dove or rock pigeon” is found in only a few remaining areas in Europe. This specie is the ancestor of the many breeds of the domestic pigeon and the many, many populations around the world of “feral pigeon”.
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Here in Belgium the bird is called in French “pigeon” and in Dutch “duif” (dove). It seems that the duplication of words of romantic and germanic origin in English cause this confusion, as is often the case.
Comment by David Sanders — Wednesday, March 2, 2005 #
This is an interesting aspect. In German and SwissGerman we know only the word “Taube” which is derived from the “Middle High-German” word “tüba”. There is no distinction, even the “peace dove” is called “Friedenstaube”. It appears to me that this is close related to the dutch word “duif”.
Comment by marlyse — Wednesday, March 2, 2005 #