Pigeons

The doves are the 308 species of near passerine birds in the order Columbiformes. The terms dove and pigeon are used interchangeably, although smaller species are more likely to be called doves.

The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), is a member of the bird family Columbidae, doves and pigeons. The bird is also known by the names of feral pigeon or domestic pigeon. In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the “pigeon”.

The species was commonly known as Rock Dove until the British Ornithologists’ Union and the American Ornithologists’ Union changed the official English name of the bird in their regions to Rock Pigeon.