AI overview
Columba is a genus of pigeons found around the world, including the common rock dove that lives in cities and towns. This genus matters because it includes species that have been important to humans for thousands of years, both as a source of food and as domesticated birds used for communication and sport.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Columbinae
- Named after
- Rock Dove
- Image
- 2017-03-05 Columba oenas, Armstrong Park 3.jpg
Show 2 more facts
- P105
- genus
via Wikidata · CC0
Article
The bird genus Columba comprises a genus of medium to large pigeons. The terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used indiscriminately for smaller and larger Columbidae, respectively. Columba species are mostly termed "pigeons", and in many cases "wood pigeons", but some (including the type species of the genus), are termed "doves". The rock dove (C. livia) has given rise to the majority of domesticated pigeon breeds, such as the racing pigeon and the fantail pigeon, some of which have become feral. Meanwhile, "wood pigeon" by itself usually means the common wood pigeon (C. palumbus).
This genus as understood today is native to the Old World, but some (notably the domestic and feral rock dove) have been introduced outside their natural range, for example in the Americas.