Pigeons and Doves

Order: COLUMBIFORMES - Family: COLUMBIDAE

350 Species currently existing - 36 in region + 1 Vagrant + 1 Introduced

Pigeons and Doves are two closely related bird groups within the family Columbidae. Read in Spanish

Appearance: Pigeons and doves vary in size, with some species as small as a sparrow and others as large as a turkey. They typically have stout bodies, short legs, and small heads. Their plumage can range from subtle shades of gray, brown, and white to vibrant colors and iridescence. One distinctive feature of pigeons and doves is their soft, cooing call, which is a characteristic sound associated with these birds.

Habitat: Pigeons and doves are found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, deserts, urban areas, and agricultural lands. Some species are highly adaptable and can thrive in urban environments, often associating with human populations.

Behavior: Pigeons and doves are primarily seed-eaters, but they also consume fruits, insects, and other plant materials. They are known for their monogamous mating behavior and their elaborate courtship displays. Pigeons and doves are often ground-feeders but are also adept fliers, capable of swift and agile flight.

Distribution: Pigeons and doves are found worldwide, except in the harshest polar regions and some remote oceanic islands. They are diverse in their distribution, with species adapted to a wide range of environments and climates.

Ecological Role: Pigeons and doves play important ecological roles as seed dispersers, helping to regenerate forests and maintain plant diversity. They are also prey for a variety of predators, contributing to the food web in their respective ecosystems.

Rock Dove

Columba Livia
Spanish Name: Paloma Doméstica

Size: 12.5 in | 32 cm
Habitat: Urban areas, including cities, towns, parks, and urban structures.
Height: <3000 m

Photo: © Luis A. Materon

White-crowned Pigeon

Patagioenas leucocephala
Spanish Name: Paloma Coroniblanca

Size: 13.5 in | 34 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, mangroves, and coastal regions, marshes, and lowland tropical forests.
Height: <100 m

Photo: © Matthew Jolley iStock/Getty Images Plus

Scaled Pigeon

Patagioenas speciosa
Spanish Name: Paloma Escamada

Size: 12.5 in | 32 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, especially in mountainous regions and foothills.
Height: <1400 m

Photo: © diegograndi iStock/Getty Images Plus

Bare-eyed Pigeon

Patagioenas corensis
Spanish Name: Paloma Cardonera

Size: 13 in | 33 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, both in lowland and mountainous regions.
Height: <400 m

Photo: © MichaelStubblefield iStock/Getty Images Plus

Southern Band-tailed Pigeon

Patagioenas albilinea
Spanish Name: Paloma Collared Sureña

Size: 14 in | 36 cm
Habitat: Humid montane forests, mountainous regions with dense vegetation, where they forage on fruits, seeds, and berries.
Height: 1200-3600 m

Photo: © johnrandallalves iStock/Getty Images Plus

Pale-vented Pigeon

Patagioenas cayennensis
Spanish Name: Paloma Morada

Size: 12 in | 30 cm
Habitat: Lowland regions, forest edges, plantations, and even urban areas with trees.
Height: <2100 m

Photo: © Luis Arce iStovk/Getty Images Plus

Plumbeous Pigeon

Patagioenas plumbea
Spanish Name: Paloma Plomiza

Size: 13 in | 33 cm
Habitat: Lowland forests, foothills, and lower montane forests.
Height: <1200 m

Photo: © neil bowman iStock/Getty Images Plus

Ruddy Pigeon

Patagioenas subvinacea
Spanish Name: Paloma Colorada

Size: 12 in | 30 cm
Habitat: Humid lowland and montane forests
Height: <2200 m

Photo: © Anselmo d'Affonseca eBird S64964277 Macaulay Library ML 204131051

Short-billed Pigeon

Patagioenas nigrirostris
Spanish Name: Paloma Piquicorta

Size: 10.5 in | 27 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, lowland forests, and sometimes montane forests.
Height: <1500 m

Photo: © Leon Gin iStock/Getty Images Plus

Dusky Pigeon

Patagioenas goodsoni
Spanish Name: Paloma Alirrufa

Size: 11 in | 28 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, lowland forests, and sometimes montane forests.
Height: <1100 m rarely 1500 m

Photo: © Alex Luna eBird S64435121 Macaulay Library ML 251745001

Purple Quail-dove

Geotrygon purpurata
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Morada

Size: in | cm
Habitat: Humid foothills and low montane forests
Height: 200-1400 m

Photo: © Rob Felix eBird S43094910 Macaulay Library ML 121294941

Saphire Quail-dove

Geotrygon saphirina
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Zafirina

Size: 8.5 in | 22 cm
Habitat:Cloud forests and montane forests
Height: 100-1450 m

Photo: © Cullen Hanks eBird S62790308 Macaulay Library ML 429244181

Ruddy Quail-dove

Geotrygon montana
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Rojiza

Size: 9.5 in | 24 cm
Habitat: Thick vegetation and undergrowth where they can forage for seeds, fruits, and insects.
Height: <2000 m rarely 2600 m

Photo: © jojoo64 iStock/Getty Images Plus

Violaceous Quail-dove

Geotrygon violacea
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Violácea

Size: 9.5 in | 24 cm
Habitat: Humid foothill forest with dense vegetation where they forage for seeds, fruits, and insects.
Height: 100-1650 m

Photo: © Matias Romano eBird S57295961 Macaulay Library ML 163769971

Olive-backed Quail-dove

Leptotrygon veraguensis
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Cariblanca

Size: 9.5 in | 24 cm
Habitat: Wet tropical forests with dense vegetation
Height: <900 m

Photo: © Cameron Eckert eBird S53484752 Macaulay Library ML 275968241

White-tipped Dove

Leptotila verreauxi
Spanish Name: Tórtola Colipinta

Size: 11 in |28 cm
Habitat: Forests, woodlands, savannas, and scrublands and Amazonian river islands
Height: <2800 m

Photo: © neil bowman iStock/Getty Images Plus

Caribbean Dove

Leptotila jamaicensis
Spanish Name: Tórtola Caribeña

Size:11 in | 28 cm
Habitat: Lowland and foothill forests, as well as in scrublands and mangrove habitats along the Caribbean coast.
Height: <100 m

Photo: © Denny Swaby eBird S31750472 Macaulay Library ML 35963471

Gray-chested Dove

Leptotila cassinii
Spanish Name: Tórtola Pechigris

Size: 10 in | 25 cm
Habitat: Humid tropical forests, including lowland and foothill forests.
Height: <100 m

Photo: © Manolo Arribas eBird S67953056 Macaulay Library ML 228193611

Tolima Dove

Leptotila conoveri
Spanish Name: Tórtola Tolimense

Size: 10 in | 25 cm
Habitat: Montane cloud forests and humid subtropical forests in the central Andes region.
Height: 1400-2500 m

Photo: © aaprophoto iStock/Getty Images Plus

Gray-headed Dove

Leptotila plumbeiceps
Spanish Name: Tórtola Cabeciazul

Size: 10.5 in | 27 cm
Habitat: Dry and humid forests, forest edges, and plantations.
Height: 600-2600 m

Photo: © Carlos Echeverría eBird S54701550 Macaulay Library ML 149967811

Gray-fronted Dove

Leptotila rufaxilla
Spanish Name: Tórtola Frentiblanca

Size:11 in | 27 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, as well as wooded areas and plantations.
Height: <1000 m

Photo: © MikeLane iStock/Getty Images Plus

Pallid Dove

Leptotila pallida
Spanish Name: Tórtola Pálida

Size: 10.5 in | 26 cm
Habitat: Lowland forests, foothills, and sometimes higher elevation forests up to around 1,200 meters.
Height: <1200 m

Photo: © Luke Seitz eBird S47221660 Macaulay Library ML 108923531

White-throated Quail-dove

Zentrygon frenata
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Bigotuda

Size: 12 in | 31 cm
Habitat: Subtropical and tropical moist montane forests of the Andes mountain
Height: 900 - 2500 m

Photo: © Luis A. Materon

Lined Quail-dove

Zentrygon linearis
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Lineada

Size: 11 in | 37 cm
Habitat:
Height: 1000-2500 m

Photo: © John Cahill xikanel.com eBird S31500180 Macaulay Library ML 34782141

Russet-crowned Quail-dove

Zentrygon goldmani
Spanish Name: Paloma-perdiz Cabecicanela

Size: 11 in | 28 cm
Habitat: Montane cloud forests, dense evergreen forests, and foothill forests.
Height: <100 m

Photo: © Daniel López-Velasco | Ornis Birding Expeditions eBird S65364711 Macaulay Library ML 212974471

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica
Spanish Name: Torcaza Aliblanca

Size: 11 in | 28 cm
Habitat: Mangroves, Urban areas, cultivated areas
Height: <3500 m

Photo: © neil bowman iStock/Getty Images Plus

Eared Dove

Zenaida auriculata
Spanish Name: Nagüiblanca

Size: 10.5 in | 26 cm
Habitat: Agricultural areas, savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands.
Height: <3500 m

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura
Spanish Name: Torcaza Plañidera

Size: 11 in |28 cm
Habitat: Farmlands, open habitat with access to water sources for drinking
Height: <1000 m

Scaled Dove

Columbina squammata
Spanish Name: Tortolita Escamada

Size: 8.5 in | 22 cm
Habitat: Dry forests, scrublands, savannas, and agricultural areas.
Height: <1000 m

Common Ground-dove

Columbina passerina
Spanish Name: Tortolita Pechiescamada

Size: 6.3 in | 16 cm
Habitat: Open woodlands, savannas, agricultural areas, and scrublands.
Height: <2500 m

Plain-breasted Ground-dove

Columbina minuta
Spanish Name: Tortolita Diminuta

Size: 6 in | 15 cm
Habitat: Dry forests, scrublands, grasslands, and open woodlands.
Height: <1400 m

Ecuadorian Ground-dove

Columbina buckleyi
Spanish Name: Tortolita Ecuatoriana

Size: 6.7 in | 17 cm
Habitat: Arid and semi-arid habitats like dry forests, scrublands, and open areas with sparse vegetation.
Height: <400 m

Ruddy Ground-dove

Columbina talpacoti
Spanish Name: Tortolita Rojiza

Size: 6.5 in | 16.5 cm
Habitat: Open woodlands, savannas, scrublands, agricultural areas, and urban environments.
Height: <2600 m

Picui Ground-dove

Columbina picui
Spanish Name: Tortolita Alinegra

Size: 7 in | 18 cm
Habitat: Dry forests, savannas, grasslands, scrublands, and agricultural areas.
Height: <100 m

Croaking Ground-dove

Columbina cruziana
Spanish Name: Tortolita Peruana

Size: 6.7 in | 17 cm
Habitat: Dry forests, scrublands, savannas, agricultural areas, and grasslands.
Height: <200 m

Blue Ground-dove

Claravis pretiosa
Spanish Name: Tortolita Azul

Size: 8.5 in | 22 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, wooded areas, plantations, and gardens.
Height: <1800 m

Maroon-chested Ground-dove

Paraclaravis mondetoura
Spanish Name: Tortolita Chusquera

Size: 8.5 in | 22 cm
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical forests, wooded areas, and gardens.
Height: <1200-3000 m

Black-winged Ground-dove

Metriopelia melanoptera
Spanish Name: Tortolita Paramuna

Size: 9 in | 23 cm
Habitat: Dry grassy or shrubby slopes, barren rocky areas
Height: 3000-4800 m

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