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Pigeon

Columbidae

Pigeons are stout-bodied birds in the family Columbidae (order Columbiformes), the same family that also includes doves. The family contains just over 300 living species and has an almost worldwide distribution, occurring in habitats from forests and deserts to farmland and cities, with the main exception of Antarctica. The best-known pigeon is the rock pigeon (Columba livia), native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia. Domestic pigeons and most feral “city pigeons” descend from this species and are now found around the world. Typical pigeons have a small head, short neck, plump body, and usually feed mainly on seeds and fruit, though diets vary by species. A distinctive trait of pigeons and doves is that both parents feed their chicks “crop milk,” a nutrient-rich secretion produced in the crop. They are also unusual among birds in being able to drink by sucking water continuously rather than taking repeated sips and lifting the head between swallows.

Pigeons are stout-bodied birds in the family Columbidae (order Columbiformes), the same family that also includes doves. The family contains just over 300 living species and has an almost worldwide distribution, occurring in habitats from forests and deserts to farmland and cities, with the main exception of Antarctica. The best-known pigeon is the rock pigeon (Columba livia), native to Europe, North Africa, and southwestern Asia. Domestic pigeons and most feral “city pigeons” descend from this species and are now found around the world. Typical pigeons have a small head, short neck, plump body, and usually feed mainly on seeds and fruit, though diets vary by species. A distinctive trait of pigeons and doves is that both parents feed their chicks “crop milk,” a nutrient-rich secretion produced in the crop. They are also unusual among birds in being able to drink by sucking water continuously rather than taking repeated sips and lifting the head between swallows.