Syd Curtis wrote:
> > Claire wrote
> >
> > "Hi Jade,
> >
> > I had someone ask me that question a couple of months ago. I think it mainly
> > has
> > to do with size .. the larger members of the family (Columbidae) are called
> > pigeons, while the smaller ones are called doves." <snip>
>
> To which Laurie added the comment:
>
> >
> > I'm not so sure about that. The wompoo fruit dove and the brown cuckoo dove
> > are
> > both at the larger end of the pigeon/dove spectrum.
> >
> > Regards, laurie
>
> And in more sensible times, were called Wompoo Pigeon and Brown Pigeon.
>
> Syd
Indeed Syd, though as you know, common names aren't scientifically based.
I guess the point is that size of the species in the taxonomically based
'fruit-dove' genus [Ptilinipus] ranges from 22cm [rose-crowned and superb]
through 35cm [banded] to 50+ cm [wompoo].
LK
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