COLUMBA (GENUS)

The large bird genus '''Columba''' comprises a group of medium to large stout-bodied pigeons, often referred to as the ''typical pigeons''.
As with other genera in the family, 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 Pigeon.
Most species in this genus are found in the Old World, but there are a few representatives in the Americas, and some species, notably the Feral Pigeon, have been introduced outside their natural range.
The American species of ''Columba'' should be split off as a separate genus, ''Patagioenas'', as it was done by the American Ornithological Union. That the American radiation constitutes a distinct lineage is borne out by molecular evidence (e.g. Johnson ''et al.'', 2001)
Species remaining in ''Columba'' are:

★ Rock Pigeon, ''Columba livia''

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★ Domestic and feral pigeons, ''Columba livia domestica''

★ Stock Pigeon, ''Columba oenas''

★ Trocaz Pigeon, ''Columba trocaz''

★ Bolle's Pigeon, ''Columba bollii''

★ Laurel Pigeon, ''Columba junoniae''

★ Hill Pigeon, ''Columba rupestris''

★ Snow Pigeon, ''Columba leuconota''

★ Speckled Pigeon, ''Columba guinea''

★ White-collared Pigeon, ''Columba albitorques''

★ Pale-backed Pigeon, ''Columba eversmanni''

★ Somali Pigeon, ''Columba oliviae''

★ Wood Pigeon or 'Common Woodpigeon', ''Columba palumbus''

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★ Madeiran Wood Pigeon, ''Columba palumbus maderensis'' - extinct (early 20th century)

★ Afep Pigeon, ''Columba unicincta''

★ African Olive-pigeon, ''Columba arquatrix''

★ Cameroon Olive-pigeon, ''Columba sjostedti''

★ São Tomé Olive-pigeon, ''Columba thomensis''

★ Comoro Olive-pigeon, ''Columba polleni''

★ Speckled Wood-pigeon, ''Columba hodgsonii''

★ White-naped Pigeon, ''Columba albinucha''

★ Ashy Wood-pigeon, ''Columba pulchricollis''

★ Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, ''Columba elphinstonii''

★ Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, ''Columba torringtoni''

★ Pale-capped Pigeon, ''Columba punicea''

★ Silvery Pigeon, ''Columba argentina'' - possibly extinct (mid-late 20th century?)

★ Andaman Wood-pigeon, ''Columba palumboides''

★ Japanese Wood-pigeon, ''Columba janthina''

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★ Ogasawara Wood-pigeon, ''Columba janthina nitens'' - extinct (1980s)

★ Bonin Wood-pigeon, '' Columba versicolor'' - extinct (c.1890)

★ Ryukyu Wood-pigeon, ''Columba jouyi'' - extinct (late 1930s)

★ Metallic Pigeon or White-throated Pigeon, ''Columba vitiensis''

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★ Lord Howe Metallic Pigeon, ''Columba vitiensis godmanae'' - extinct (1853)

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★ Tongan Metallic Pigeon, ''Columba vitiensis'' ssp. - extinct (late 18th century); validity doubtful

★ White-headed Pigeon, ''Columba leucomela''

★ Yellow-legged Pigeon, ''Columba pallidiceps''

★ Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, ''Columba delegorguei''

★ Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, ''Columba iriditorques''

★ São Tomé Bronze-naped Pigeon, ''Columba malherbii''

★ African Lemon-dove, ''Columba larvata'' - sometimes placed in ''Aplopelia''

★ São Tomé Lemon-dove, ''Columba simplex'' - sometimes placed in ''Aplopelia''
A fossil species, ''Columba omnisanctorum'', was described from the Early Pliocene (5.3-3.6 mya) of the Gargano Peninsula and surroundings, Italy. A supposed "falcon" fossil from nearby contemporary and Middle Pliocene (3.6-2.6 mya) sites may either be a distinct species ''Columba pisana'' or the same, in which case the latter name would apply.(Mlíkovský 2002)

Contents

References

References

★ (2001): A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera ''Streptopelia'' and ''Columba''. ''Auk'' '118'(4): 874-887. PDF fulltext

★ (2002): ''Cenozoic Birds of the World, Part 1: Europe''. Ninox Press, Prague. ISBN 80-901105-3-8 PDF fulltext