Gentle Doves and Pigeons

09-21-2007, 07:32 PM

Gentle Doves and Pigeons
From Christine Tarski,
Doves and pigeons can be found throughout the world, and sometimes may show up in your backyard. These birds are scorned, and they are beloved. They are symbols of peace and romance. They have gained been dubbed "winged rats." What is the true story on these birds?
Doves and pigeons are part of the Columbidae family which has over 300 different species around the world. Usually the larger birds are called pigeons while the smaller ones are called doves. All species feed their young a substance called "pigeon milk." During breeding season, the crops in both males and female adult birds thicken with stored nutrients. These nutritious cells of the crop are discarded and become a thick whitish semi-liquid which is regurgitated and feed to the nestlings. Another interesting fact about the birds in this family is the way they drink water: they do not tilt back their heads to swallow but instead suck up the water.

The birds in the Columbidae family are plump with small heads. Columbiformes can be found on all continents but have the most species in the Australasian area of the world. They are not sea birds but are strong fliers and can be found on many islands.

The extinct Passenger Pigeon, was a member of this family. Before the 20th century, it was thought to be the most abundant bird in the world and many thought it would always be alive on the earth. But hunting and careless forestry practices brought about the extinction of this bird.

In North America, there are 14 species of the Columbidae family. These are Key West Quail Doves, White-tipped Doves, Mourning Doves, White-winged Doves, Eurasian Collared-Doves, Ringed Turtle-Doves, Spotted Doves, Inca Doves, Common Ground-Doves, Ruddy Ground-Doves, Rock Doves (Common Pigeons), Band-tailed Pigeons
Mourning Doves are found throughout the United States, Mexico and parts of Canada. This is a slender dove, about 12" long and with an 18" wingspan. It has a long pointed tail and loves to perch on telephone lines, looking somewhat like a comma. This bird has a mournful melancholy song, sometimes mistaken for an owl.
White-winged Doves are not quite as long as Mourning Doves but have a larger wingspan (19") and are heavier. They are found in the southwestern section of the US, Mexico, as well as along the Gulf coast and up the eastern coastline of the US Its tail is not long and slender but short and square. These birds are light colored with a white wing patch.

Eurasian Collared-Doves are much about an inch longer than Mourning Doves, have a much wider wingspan (22") and weigh almost 3 grams more.
These birds are pale with a dark shoulder marking and have square tails. Find them in isolated pockets throughout the eastern half of the U.S. as well as throughout Florida. These birds are not native but were introduced from Europe to the Bahama in 1974. They are forming colonies in the U.S. and are spreading. This is people-loving bird and will live close to houses.
Ringed Turtle-Doves are almost the length of Mourning Doves but have a wider wingspan (22"). They almost look white with a distinctive shoulder marking. These birds have a soft cooing song. If you see one of these birds, it is most likely an escaped domestic bird, not a native bird. These birds usually do not live long outside of their cages. Small flocks of these birds live in the southern U.S.

Spotted Doves are longer than Mourning Doves with a 21" wingspan. They are heavier too, weighing in several grams more than their cousins. These dove are darker with a dark reddish brown color, and small white spotted collar on adults. These birds are native in Asia and was intentionally introduced in 1917 in Los Angeles. Unless you live in Southern California, you most likely will not see these bird in North America.
White-tipped Doves are found normally in far south Texas, the Mexican coastlines, and off the Florida coast. This bird loves seclusion and is found in the thick brush and deep woods. This stocky bird is a little bit larger than the Mourning Dove. It has a light colored body and grayish tan wings. White-tipped Doves are ground-feeders, eating fallen seed, insects, and some grasses and cacti.
Unless you actively search for the Key West Quail-Doves in far south Florida and islands, you will most likely never get to put them on your life list. This roundish bird visits the U.S. from the Caribbean Islands and is about 11" long with a 17" wingspan. It has reddish brown upper parts with a grayish white underparts, with a distinctive white streak from the red bill to the back of its head.

It is a shy bird, living on the floors of dense vegetation or wooded areas. Feeding from the ground, it will eat seed, fruit on the ground, insects, small snails and small insects.
Inca Doves are more commonly found than the Key West Quail-Doves and are seen in most of Texas, far southwestern Louisiana, southern Arizona and New Mexico, and parts of California. Isolated pockets in the West and Midwest may also yield a glimpse of these doves. They are small and sleek, only 8.25" in length and weighing only 1.6 grams. Inca Doves are a grayish tan with scaly light gray underparts. They will walk along the open ground, feeding. In cold weather to keep warm, these doves may actually form a bird pyramid, with some birds standing on the backs of the birds under them!

Ruddy Ground-Doves are very small birds, only 6.75" in length. These rufous colored birds have a light colored crown and nape. These doves might be called "party birds" since they enjoy being around other birds, either feeding or roosting. Find them sometimes in large flocks of other doves. Ground-feeders, these birds can normally be found in much of Mexico, and in pockets of far south Texas, southern New Mexico, parts of Arizona and California.

Common Ground-Doves are also small, coming in at 6.5" in length, about the size of a sparrow. They are brownish in color with a scaly head and breast. Very tame birds, they will not usually fly away until absolutely necessary and sing a soft cooing song. Although they lost of grass and weed seeds, they will also eat berries and insects. Find these birds throughout Florida and southern neighboring states, southern Texas and adjoining Mexico, far south Arizona and California as well as Baja California and the western side of Mexico.

Rock Doves, are commonly referred to as a Pigeon, although there are other pigeons too. These birds are commonly found in urban areas and can mass in large flocks where they can find food. Although many people consider them to be a nuisance, these birds have been used throughout history to deliver messages. For example, it is believed that Caesar used pigeons to carry back his conquests as did Napoleon. Rock Doves come in a variety of colors from the normal light gray with a darker head to a brown color to a pied coloring to a pure white. Although these birds were introduced from Europe back in the 1600's, these birds can be found in every state of the U.S., throughout Mexico, and the southern half of Canada. These birds are about 12.5" in length and have a 28" wingspan.
Band-tailed Pigeons are longer than Rock Doves (14.5") but have shorter wings.
This is the largest pigeon in North America is a gray color with a slight purplish head. This bird was once more widely found but has been reduced in number by over hunting. Several states have bans on hunting these birds so populations are recovering. These fruit-eaters are more commonly found in the western U.S. and the western coast of Canada, although there are pockets of these birds in many eastern states.
Go to far far south Texas or Mexico to find the Red-billed Pigeon. A slender long-necked dove with a dark gray color and reddish gray neck. The iridescent feathers will become purple, blue, green and brown when seen in bright sunlight. They have a short red bill with a yellow tip. These are shy birds that are hard to see unless they make one of their frequent trips to bathe and drink. They will eat fruit, nuts and seed.

White-crowned Pigeons are dark gray with a gorgeous white crown. Their bill is red or yellow with a lighter tip. Although these birds are found in the Caribbean normally, you may see them in far south Florida or the Florida Keys sitting on telephone lines. They are 14" in length with a wingspan of 25". These birds eat insects, berries, and seed but are not normally ground feeders.

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Arty

09-22-2007, 05:24 AM

Please open your hearts and homes unto the bird of peace.
These birds are beautiful and pacted with mystery.
Arty