No takers (other than Philip Veerman) because there is no real answer; no
logical one, anyway.
As the Encyclopaedia Britannica online says:
Columbiform: (order Columbiformes), any member of the group that comprises
the pigeons, doves, dodoes, and sand grouse. The suborder
Columbae embraces the extinct dodo and solitaires in the family
Raphidae and the extinct and living pigeons and doves in the family
Columbidae. The names pigeon and dove are synonymous and
imply no biological distinction.
and
Dove: any of certain birds of the pigeon family, Columbidae (order
Columbiformes). The names pigeon and dove are often used
interchangeably. Although "dove" usually refers to the smaller,
long-tailed members of the pigeon family, there are exceptions: the
domestic pigeon, a rather typical pigeon, is frequently called the
rock dove and is the bird portrayed and called the "dove of peace."
The common names of these birds do not necessarily provide any
information about their biological relationships.
and
Pigeon: any of several hundred species of birds constituting the family
Columbidae (order Columbiformes). Smaller forms are usually
called doves, larger forms pigeons. An exception is the white
domestic pigeon, the symbol known as the "dove of peace"
David
John Gamblin wrote:
> What have we got you all stumped?
> with:
> What makes a dove a dove and a pigeon a pigeon?
>
> =====
To unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to
Include ONLY "unsubscribe birding-aus" in the message body (without the
quotes)
|
