Dove vs Pigeon: What's the Difference? (Spoiler: It's Complicated)
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You’ve seen them at weddings, in city parks, and maybe circling a fast-food dumpster.
Doves and pigeons: majestic symbols of peace and "flying rats", depending on who you ask. But here’s the kicker—scientifically speaking, they’re the same thing.
Yep. Same bird, different vibe.
So why does the white one get released at ceremonies while the gray one gets side-eyed on the sidewalk?
Is it a size thing?
A branding choice?
A PR stunt?
It’s time to unpack this avian identity crisis and figure out if “dove” and “pigeon” are just two names for the same bird.
Are Pigeons The Same As Doves?
Here's the mind-blowing revelation that shook my bird-loving world: scientifically speaking, there's no real distinction between "doves" and "pigeons." WHAT?!
Yep. They're all members of the same bird family, Columbidae, which includes about 350 species. Whether we call them doves or pigeons is mostly about linguistic tradition, cultural perceptions, and vibes. It's like how we have multiple words for "couch" and "sofa"—same thing, different labels.
But since that's a supremely unsatisfying answer, let's talk about the general distinctions most people make between these birds.
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How Can You Tell The Difference?
In everyday language, we tend to call the smaller, more delicate-looking Columbidae "doves" and the chunkier, often city-dwelling varieties "pigeons."
The mourning dove that makes that soft, melancholy cooing in your backyard? It's slender and tan with a pointed tail. Meanwhile, the hefty gray bird with the iridescent neck that's trying to steal your sandwich in the park? Classic pigeon.
But like any good rule, there are maddening exceptions. The adorably tiny diamond dove is obviously called a dove because it's small. But the enormous crowned pigeon (which is bigger than some chickens) is still called a pigeon despite being MASSIVE. Make it make sense!
Spotting Doves vs. Pigeons
Photo: Roman Nerud/Shutterstock
This is another loose pattern that sometimes helps. Birds called "doves" often (not always) have softer, more subtle coloration—tans, soft grays, gentle browns. Think of the pale ring-necked dove or the cream-colored Eurasian collared dove.
Meanwhile, many "pigeons" sport bolder colors and patterns, like the rock pigeon (the common city pigeon) with its iridescent neck feathers that shine purple and green in the sunlight.
But again, exceptions abound. The white "doves" released at weddings? Those are actually rock pigeons bred for their color. And the Victoria crowned pigeon is a stunning blue with an elaborate crest, while the pink pigeon is... well, pink.
Location, Location, Location
Here's where things get even more confusing. In North America and Europe, we tend to use "pigeon" for the urban birds that hang out in city parks and "dove" for their more wilderness-loving cousins.
The rock pigeon (Columba livia) is the classic city slicker that's colonized urban areas worldwide. They're the ones leaving "presents" on statues and buildings. Meanwhile, mourning doves prefer woodland edges and suburbs, showing up at your bird feeder but keeping their distance from downtown.
But in some parts of the world, this distinction falls apart completely. And certain species, like the common wood pigeon in Europe, live in forests but are still called pigeons!
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The Symbolism Factor: Do Doves Have Pretty Privilege?
This might be the most consistent distinction: we use "dove" when we want to be poetic and "pigeon" when we're being practical.
Doves symbolize peace, love, and purity. Nobody releases "pigeons of peace" or puts "pigeon" figurines on wedding cakes. When was the last time you saw a Valentine's card with pigeons on it?
Meanwhile, pigeons get cast as the scrappy urban survivors, sometimes disparagingly called "flying rats" (which is totally unfair—they're actually remarkably intelligent, stunningly beautiful birds).
It's a PR problem, really. Same bird family, completely different public image. We could even go so far as to say that doves have pretty privilege.
So How Do You Tell Them Apart?
Here's my practical advice after all this confusion:
- In North America, if it's gray, chunky, and strutting around the city, people call it a pigeon.
- If it's smaller, tan or pinkish-gray, with a more delicate build and hanging out in your backyard, people call it a dove.
- If someone corrects you either way, you can confidently say, "Actually, the terms are used interchangeably since they're all part of the Columbidae family." Then watch their eyes glaze over.
By the way, if you think this is confusing, you should check out the differences between ravens and crows. That's a whole other identity crisis in the bird world.
And since we're on the topic of birds that confuse and delight us, if you know someone who's bird-obsessed like me, you might want to find the perfect gift for a bird lover in your life. Maybe a field guide that actually settles the dove vs. pigeon debate? (Spoiler: it won't.)
So next time you see one of these birds, call it whatever you want. The bird doesn't care, and technically, you're not wrong!
