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The doves are the 308
species of near passerine birds in the order Columbiformes, hence
the adjective columbine refers to something being dove-like. The
terms dove and pigeon are used interchangeably, although smaller
species are more likely to be called doves. The species commonly
referred to just as the "pigeon" is the feral Rock Dove.
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and
short slender bills with a fleshy cere. The poorly constructed
nests are made of sticks, and the two white eggs are incubated
by both sexes. Doves feed on seeds, fruit and other soft plantstuffs.
Unlike most other birds, (but see flamingo), the doves and pigeons
produce "crop milk", which is secreted by a sloughing
of fluid-filled cells from the lining of the crop. Both sexes
produce this highly nutritious substance to feed to the young.
This family occurs worldwide, but the greatest variety is in the
Indomalaya and Australasia ecozones. It is related to the extinct
dodos.
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The young doves
and pigeons are called 'squabs'. A person who keeps pigeons is
called a 'pigeon fancier'. White doves are a traditional symbol
of love and peace. A dove was supposed to have been released by
Noah after the flood in order to find land; it came back carrying
an olive branch, telling Noah that, somewhere, there was land.
A dove with an olive branch has since then come to symbolize peace.
In Christian iconography, a dove also symbolizes the Holy Spirit,
in reference to the Baptism of Jesus where the Holy Spirit appeared
as a dove. In politics the name "dove" is sometimes
applied to figures who favour peaceful solutions to problems as
opposed to "hawks", who favour aggressive action.
Above Images Are From The Us Fish and Wildlife Service
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