How can you tell the difference between a pigeon and a dove?

Question

I think that I can tell a dove from a pigeon because pigeons have distinctive markings- but a friend argues that the 'doves' are just pigeons with different markings. How can I prove that they are doves?

Answer 1

Pigeon meat is darker, whilst Dove is perfect in pies. Try them with a Merlot

Answer 2

Pigeons and doves are some 300 species of near passerine birds in the order Columbiformes. In general parlance the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice there is a tendency for "dove" 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 much variation between "dove" and "pigeon".

The species commonly referred to just as the "pigeon" is the feral Rock Pigeon, common in many cities. The Rock Pigeon is 30–35 cm long with a 62–68 cm wingspan. The white lower back of the pure Rock Pigeon is its best identification character, but the two black bars on its pale grey wings are also distinctive . The tail is margined with white.

Answer 3

The pigeon is the one laughing at the doves small head. They are basically the same bird.

Answer 4

There are pigeons which are greyish that you see everywhere and then there are collared doves they are a lighter grey and have a black band round there neck these are the annoying ones which coo down your chimney for hours on end they are normally in two's, there are the white doves which are obvious to spot.

Answer 5

pigeons and doves are one and the same. People use the term pigeon for the wild ones and doves for the fancy ones.They are the same species.

Answer 6

a dove has a a shorter tail, and is mostly ALL white.

Answer 7

Doves have also been named WOOD PIDGEONS so im sorry but your friend is right

Answer 8

a dove is more white

Answer 9

doves are white and prettier

Answer 10

there is only four letters in Dove