DOVES AND PIGEONS

ORDER Columbiformes
FAMILY Columbidae

Rock Pigeon White-winged Dove   Band-tailed Pigeon Mourning Dove   Eurasian Collared-Dove Inca Dove
COOL FACTS	TOP
Pigeons and doves drink by sucking water, using their beaks like straws. More Cool Facts about Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae
ORDER Columbiformes	TOP
Pigeons, doves, dodos, solitaires
Characteristics short slender bill with bare skin (cere) above short legs produce "milk" from crop to feed nestlings
Families Species # of species Distribution Columbidae Pigeons and Doves 314 worldwide Raphidae Dodos and Solitaires 3 all extinct Mascarene Islands (Mauritius, Reunion, Rodrigues; remote islands in Indian Ocean east of Africa and Madagascar)
COOL FACTS about Order Columbiformes	TOP
Dodos and solitaires (Family Raphidae) were giant flightless pigeon-like birds that lived on islands. They looked much like pigeon squabs (nestlings), with loose plumage, naked faces, small useless wings, and fat abdomens.
FAMILY Columbidae	TOP
Pigeons and doves
Number of species    314
Characteristics short slender bill with bare skin (cere) above short legs usually sexes are similar (Passenger Pigeons [extinct] are a North American exception) produce "milk" from crop to feed nestlings lay 1 - 2 usually whitish eggs feeding behaviors of three types: ground feeders, tree/shrub feeders and birds that feed both on and above ground
COOL FACTS about Family Columbidae	TOP
Pigeons and doves feed their nestlings "pigeon milk" which is regurgitated by both adults. It is produced by the crop and has more protein and fat than cow or human milk. It is also called "crop milk." Hatchlings only eat crop milk. As they get older it is gradually replaced by all seeds.