Types of Doves

Doves, the universal symbol for peace, are a group of birds that along with pigeons, belong to the Order Columbiformes and Family Columbidae.
The names pigeons and doves are commonly used interchangeably as there is generally little difference between the species other than size.
Three hundred species can be found world wide, with nine native species found in the United States.



Turtle Doves, famed for their inclusion in a popular Christmas song, belong to a dove genera not native to the United States. The Ringed Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia risoria), a domesticated species, can be found in the wild in some areas of the Southeast.
The Rock Pigeon and the Mourning Dove are the most common species, found virtually throughout the United States. The remaining species have very geographically limited ranges, mostly in the Southern United States.
The top picture shows a White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), a tropical species that can be found along the southern border of the United States.