The Dove: Its Appearance And The Most Important Information About It

What is a dove?

The dove is a type of bird belonging to the Columbidae family, and the Columbiformes order. The names pigeons and doves are often used interchangeably. This bird is famous for having several colors, such as blue. It is brown, grey, and white, and is small in size, with an average lifespan of 10 years.

It is worth noting here that the dove is usually a smaller bird when compared to the larger dove, as the two species belong to the same family, and are similar in appearance. Doves are found in every part of the world, except for Antarctica, and Australia, for example, is considered the original home of the diamond dove (Diamond Dove). As for the Ring-necked Dove, its original home is Africa, and although pigeons and doves are widespread throughout the world, the largest diversity of them is found in Southeast Asia and Australia.

Dove shape

Doves of all kinds are known for having small heads in relation to their bodies, small and narrow beaks, and short, soft legs, which causes their heads to shake back and forth while walking, in addition to having fairly long tails, and they have distinctive colors that help identify their species. The number of colors may reach 35 recognized colors, and the most famous colors of doves are: grey, white, brown, and peach.

Dove food

Doves feed mainly on seeds of grains and herbs, and some species need an amount exceeding 2,500 seeds per day to cover their high calorie needs. They also feed on some types of fruits, and the white-winged dove feeds on snails to obtain calcium, and on small pebbles to grind plant materials. In her intestines.

Home of the dove

Pigeons can be found in open forests and urban areas. Some species also live in dense forests. They can always be seen on electricity wires and tree trunks.

Personality and behavior of the dove

Doves are pets, but care must be taken when dealing with them, as attempts at forced interaction can frighten them or cause them to break their wings. However, it is possible to tame some doves manually and make them accustomed to eating food from their handlers. They are also considered social birds. Great with other birds.

The sound of the dove

The dove emits a continuous cooing. It is a fairly constant cooing and is not like the sound of a parrot. Humans’ acceptance of this cooing varies depending on their tastes. Some people may enjoy it and consider it relaxing, while others may find it annoying and do not like to listen to it.

Diseases that can affect doves

This bird is highly susceptible to infection with red mites, which hide during the day and come out at night to feed on the bird’s blood. As for doves found in the wild, they are susceptible to infection with roundworms, tapeworms, and other types of worms. They can also be infected with kanker disease, which is a disease. Respiratory disease appears in the form of swelling in the dove’s throat and a cheesy growth around the mouth. It is considered a fatal disease if it is not treated. It is worth noting here that the dove breeder must be careful to wash his hands after handling the bird, feeding it, or cleaning its nesting place, as the dove can To transmit some diseases to humans; Such as: chlamydia and salmonella (bacterial infections), but in general, doves are healthy birds.

Various facts about the dove

Among the interesting facts about the dove are the following:

Doves communicate with each other by performing many physical displays in addition to vocal and visual communication. The sounds are usually in the pattern “cooOOoo-woo-woo-woooo”, and they also make a whistling sound during their flight.

Doves are considered medium-sized birds, with an average length ranging between 9-14.2 inches (22-36 cm).

Doves are fast when flying. Because of their broad oval wings and long, pointed tail, the fastest species is the mourning dove, which can travel at an average speed of about 50 mph (80 km/h).

Their average mass ranges from 0.02-0.07 lb (0.92-1.41 oz), and males are heavier and larger than females.

Doves differ slightly from pigeons , and the main difference between them is the difference in size, as mentioned previously. Pigeons are considered larger in size, while doves are individuals of smaller size, and there are no scientifically proven differences between them other than size, and they are often confused around the world.