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Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae that includes about 310 species.
In general, the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. Pigeon is a French word that derives from the Latin pipio, for a "peeping" chick,[1] while dove is a Germanic word that refers to the bird's diving flight.[2] In ornithological practice, "dove" tends to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically, the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the terms. The species most commonly referred to as "pigeon" is the rock dove, one subspecies of which, the domestic pigeon, is common in many cities as the feral pigeon.
In general, the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. Pigeon is a French word that derives from the Latin pipio, for a "peeping" chick,[1] while dove is a Germanic word that refers to the bird's diving flight.[2] In ornithological practice, "dove" tends to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically, the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the terms. The species most commonly referred to as "pigeon" is the rock dove, one subspecies of which, the domestic pigeon, is common in many cities as the feral pigeon.
In the Hebrew Bible, doves or young pigeons are acceptable burnt offerings for those who cannot afford a more expensive animal. In the Book of Genesis, Noah sent out a dove after the great flood to determine how far the floodwaters had receded. "Dove" is also a term of endearment in the Song of Songs and elsewhere. In Hebrew, Jonah (יוֹנָה) means dove.[24] The "sign of Jonas" in Mat 16:1–4 is related to the "sign of the dove".[25]
Jesus's parents sacrificed doves on his behalf after his circumcision (Luke 2:24). Later, the Holy Spiritdescended upon Jesus at his baptism like a dove (Matthew 3:16), and subsequently the "peace dove" became a common Christian symbol of the Holy Spirit.
In Islam, doves and the pigeon family in general are respected and favoured because they are believed to have assisted the final prophet of Islam, Muhammad, in distracting his enemies outside the cave of Thaw'r in the great Hijra.
The Chaldean myth the Epic of Gilgamesh, Utnapishtim releases a dove and raven to find land; however, the dove merely circles and returns. Only then does Utnapishtim send forth the raven, which does not return, and Utnapishtim concludes the raven has found land.[26]
In the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean, doves were used as symbols for the Canaanite mother goddess Asherah, the Phoenician goddessTanit, and the Roman goddesses Venus and Fortuna.[27]
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
God the Holy Spiritdescending from heaven like a dove at the Baptism of Jesusdepicted by Almeida Júnior
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
The spotted dove, which is most commonly found in Southeast Asia.
Feral pigeons (Columba livia
domestica), also called city doves, city
pigeons, or street pigeons, are
derived from domestic pigeons
that have returned to the wild. The domestic pigeon was originally
bred from the wild rock dove, which naturally inhabits sea-cliffs and mountains. Rock (i.e.,
'wild'), domestic, and feral pigeons are all the same species and will readily
interbreed. Feral pigeons find the ledges of buildings to be a substitute for
sea cliffs, have become adapted to urban life, and are abundant in towns and
cities throughout much of the world.
The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is a pigeon that was derived from therockpigeon.Therockpigeonistheworld'soldestdomesticated bird. Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets mention the domestication of pigeons more than 5,000
years ago, as do Egyptianhieroglyphics.[2] Research suggests that domestication of pigeons occurred as
early as 10,000 years ago.[2] People who keep domestic pigeons are generally called pigeon fanciers.[3] Domestic pigeons can often be distinguished from feral pigeons because they usually have a metal or plastic band around one
(sometimes both) legs which shows, by a number on it, that they are registered
to an owner.[4]
Pigeons have made
contributions of considerable importance to humanity, especially in times of
war.[3] In war the homing ability of pigeons has been put to use by
making them messengers. So-called war pigeons have carried many vital messages and some have been decorated
for their services. Medals such as the Croix de guerre, awarded to Cher Ami, and the Dickin Medal awarded
to the pigeons G.I. Joe and Paddy, amongst 32 others,
have been awarded to pigeons for their services in saving human lives. Some
people living in Urban areas consider pigeons to be pests. Domestic pigeons are
sometimes called "thoroughbreds of the air," while feral pigeons are sometimes called
"rats with wings."[5] A group of pigeons flying together is called a "kit".
Domestic
pigeons reproduce in a similar way to the wild rock pigeon.
Generally humans will select breeding partners.
Baby
pigeons are called squeakers or squabs.
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pigeon squab in nest
Pigeon squab in nest
All pigeons are able to
return to the home loft if released at a location that they have never visited
before and that may be up to 1000 km away.Some
pigeons are remember their home and return their old home from new home. after
a month or a year A special breed, called homing pigeons has been developed through selective
breeding to carry messages and members of this variety of pigeon are still
being used in the sport of pigeon racing and the white release dove ceremony at weddings and funerals.
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Homing Pigeon
Homing Pigeon
The ability a pigeon has
to return home from a strange location necessitates two sorts of information.
The first, called "map sense" is their geographic location. The
second, "compass sense" is the bearing they need to fly from their new
location in order to reach their home. Both of these senses, however, respond
to a number of different cues in different situations. The most popular
conception of how pigeons are able to do this is that they are able to sense
the Earth's magnetic
field with tiny
magnetic tissues in their head (magnetoception]. This is all the
more surprising as they are not a migratory species,
which is a fact used by some ornithologists to dispute this theory].
Another theory is that pigeons have compass sense, which uses the position of
the sun, along with an internal clock, to work out direction. However, studies
have shown that if magnetic disruption or clock changes disrupt these senses,
the pigeon can still manage to get home. The variability in the effects of
manipulations to these sense of the pigeons indicates that there is more than
one cue on which navigation is based and that map sense appears to rely on a
comparison of available cues[11]
Other potential cues
used include:
·
The use of a sun compass[12]
·
Nocturnal navigate by stars[13]
·
Navigation by infrasound map[16]
·
Polarised light compass[17]
·
Olfactory stimuli[18]
Dattatraya has 24 teachers ( Gurus ) one of them are Pigeon according to Hindu Scripture.
Pigeons
are also bred for meat, generally called squab and harvested from young birds.
Pigeons grow to a very large size in the nest before they are fledged and able to fly, and in this stage of
their development (when they are called squabs) they are prized as food. Breeds of pigeons developed for
their meat are collectively known as utility pigeons.
Pigeon fanciers developed many exotic forms of pigeon. These are generally
classed as fancy pigeons. The Fanciers
compete against each other at exhibitions or shows and the different forms or breeds are judged to a standard to decide who has the best bird.
Domestic
pigeons are also commonly used in laboratory experiments in biology, medicine
and cognitive science, also kept by enthusiasts for the
enjoyment of Flying/Sporting competitions. Breeds such as tipplers are flown in endurance contests by their owners.
Pigeons
have been trained to distinguish between cubist and impressionist paintings, for instance. In Project Sea Hunt, a US coast
guard search and rescue project in the 1970s/1980s, pigeons were shown to be
more effective than humans in spotting shipwreck victims at sea.[19] Research
in pigeons is widespread, encompassing shape and texture perception, exemplar
and prototype memory, category-based and associative concepts, and many more
unlisted here.
Hawks
and falcons are Pigeon’s enemy, they are kill pigeons when they are flying and
use the prey for food another enemies are Cats and squirrels.
In the United States, some pigeon keepers illegally
trap and kill hawks and falcons to
protect their pigeons.[20] In
American pigeon-related organizations, some enthusiasts have openly shared
their experiences of killing hawks and falcons, although this is frowned upon
by the majority of fanciers. None of the major clubs condone this practice. It
is estimated that almost 1,000 birds of prey have been killed in Oregon and Washington,
and that 1,000–2,000 are killed in southern California annually.
In June 2007, three Oregon men were indicted with misdemeanour violations of
the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act for
killing birds of prey. Seven Californians and a Texan were also charged in the case.
In the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom pigeon fanciers have been blamed for a
trap campaign to kill peregrine falcons. Eight illegal spring-loaded
traps were found close to peregrine nests and at least one of the protected
birds died. The steel traps are thought to have been set as part of a
“concerted campaign” to kill as many of the birds as possible in the West
Midlands.
Pigeons
are often found in pairs , but usually the pigeons are gregarious, living in flocks
of 50 to 500 birds (dependent on the food supply). Cooing is also more
frequent between couples during mating and nesting. Both parents
participate in the incubation of the eggs.
One
of the difficulties of controlling pigeon populations is the common practice of
feeding them, as here in New York.
Large
pigeon trap/coop/loft at Batman Park, Melbourne. Designed specifically to encourage nesting and
allow removal of fertilised eggs to prevent population growth, it is a landmark
in its own right.
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Many
places where pigeons could land are covered with spikes.
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chart By: B. P. Dhungana
Photo: Google
Available in Nepal & India
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: Google
Photo: Google
Pink Tailed Green Pigeon ( Nepali name: Haleso )
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
African Olive Pigeon
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nilgiri wood pigeon
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicobar Pigeon
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Goura Victoria
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pheasant Pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis aruensis) - taken at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Nicobar Pigeon
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Victoria Crowned Pigeon
Goura Victoria
Pheasant Pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis aruensis) - taken at the Cincinnati Zoo.
Photo: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peruvian Pigeon (Patagioenas oenops)
white Funtail pigeon
Photo: Google
Available in Nepal & India
black Funtail Pigeon
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
red Funtail Pigeon
Photo: Google
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
Photo: B. P. Dhungana
Available in Nepal & India
- Main sources of this article: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
