Doves and Pigeons

This photo album comprises three galleries featuring bird portraits that belong to the Doves and Pigeons (Columbidae) family placed in Columbiformes. The first gallery displays images from the Columbinae and Claravinae subfamilies, while the next two show photos from Raphinae. See Taxonomy note at the end of this page.

Doves and Pigeons

Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti rufipennis) perched at La Vaga Estate Lakes in Trinidad

Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina quitensis) perched on the grounds of Puembo San Jose Hotel, Quito

Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) ssp hypoleuca) perched on a rock in Quito's Botanical Garden — Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata) ssp hypoleuca) perched on a rock in Quito’s Botanical Garden

Galapagos Dove (Zenaida galapagoensis) on the ground at Rabida Island

White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi zapluta) at Asa Wright Nature Reserve in Trinidad

Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) on the snow at Yateley in Hampshire

Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri) by the Macchabee Trail in the Black River Gorges National Park, Mauritius

White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela) at D'Aguilar National Park in New South Wales — White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela) at D’Aguilar National Park in New South Wales

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) on the ground at Yateley in Hampshire

Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) juvenile on the ground at Yateley in Hampshire

Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis tigrina) perched at Singapore Quarry in Dairy Farm Nature Park

Madagascar Turtle Dove (Streptopelia picturata rostrata) on the ground at Mahe Island in Seychelles

Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia phasianella robinsoni) perched in a tree on Mossman Daintree coast road

Rock Dove (Columba livia) perched on a rock at the Chinese Garden in Singapore

Dove and Pigeon (Claravinae and Columbinae) Notes

Apart from the Pink Pigeon now assessed as Vulnerable, all others are ‘red list 2019’ assessed as ‘Least Concern’. The Pink Pigeon, a Mauritius endemic, was listed as ‘Endangered’ when I photographed it back in 2014. There were less than 500 individuals distributed in five sub-populations in the Black River Georges National Park. The population is now stable with 290-999 mature individuals.

The first two images are American Ground-Doves (Claravinae). The next three belong to Columbinae, tribe Zenaidini (NW) and the remaining photos to tribe Columbini (OW).

Endemic species include the Pink Pigeon, Galapagos Dove and the Australian Brown Cuckoo Dove and White-headed Pigeon. The Madagascar Turtle Dove is an introduced species in Seychelles.

The Rock Dove is commonly known as a ‘Pigeon’, ‘Feral Pigeon’ or ‘Rock Pigeon’. Wild ancestors of domesticated pigeons with introduced and feral populations worldwide. Pigeons have wide colour variation from white through to black. Note that ‘Rock Pigeon’ conflicts with the names of two Australian Petrophassa species.

Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis aka Streptopelia chinensis. The local subspecies in Singapore is possibly tigrina or chinensis (nominate).

Australasian Doves and Pigeons

Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis) perched in a tree at Townsville Town Common in Queensland

Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis inexpectata) on the ground at Yellow Water Region Kakadu National Park

Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata) in a residential garden at Aux Pins in Seychelles

Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata) on the ground at Chinese Garden in Singapore

Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida) on the grass at Cairns Esplanade in Queensland

Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) on the ground at Adelaide Botanic Gardens South Australia

Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) on the ground at Flinders Ranges National Park

Brush Bronzewing (Phaps elegans) perched in a tree at Innes National Park in South Australia

Australasian Dove and Pigeon Notes

All the displayed species in the gallery are ‘Red List 2019’ assessed as ‘Least Concern’ and belong to Subfamily Raphinae, tribe Phabini. The two bronzewings and Crested Pigeon are Australian endemics. Both the Bar-shouldered Dove and Peaceful Dove are Australasian endemics.

Due to introductions, the Zebra Dove has well-established feral populations around the world. The gallery includes an individual from the Seychelles feral population, locally known as a Barred Ground Dove. Most sources show the population limited to Southern Thailand, Malay Peninsula, parts of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and the Philippines. There is uncertainty about its original native range.

Old Word Doves and Pigeons

Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) male perched in a tree at Dairy Farm Nature Park in Singapore

Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans) female perched in a tree at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Singapore

Common Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) female on the ground at the Central Catchment Reserve in Singapore

Common Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica) male on the ground at the Central Catchment Reserve in Singapore

Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) perched in a tree at Chinese Garden in Singapore

Mountain Imperial Pigeon (Ducula badia) perched at Frasers Hill in Malaysia

Torresian Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) perched in a tree at Cairns Esplanade in Queensland

New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) perched on a fence post in Catlins, Otago

New Zealand Pigeons (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) pair perched in a bush, Catlins, Otago

Old Word Dove and Pigeon Notes

The endemic New Zealand Pigeon is ‘Near Threatened’ while all other species shown in the gallery are ‘Red List 2019’ assessed as ‘Least Concern’, all have a wide distribution. The birds featured in the gallery do not exhibit plumage dimorphism except for the Common Emerald Dove. The gallery shows a Torresian Imperial Pigeon white morph. I came across the pair of New Zealand Pigeons on Long Point Road in the Catlins; they were happy to pose for photos.

Dove and Pigeon Taxonomy

Columbiformes (Doves and Pigeons), an order with only one family. Columbidae splits into three subfamilies:
(a) Columbinae with two tribes Zenaidini (Quail-doves from the New World) and Columbini (Old and New World species),
(b) Claravinae (New World Ground-doves),
(c) Raphinae contains five tribes of Old World Doves and Pigeons: Phabini (Australasian Pigeons and Doves), Raphini, Treronini (Green-Pigeons), Turturini (-), and Ptilinopini (Fruit-Doves and Imperial-Pigeons).