Examples of birds that look like doves include afep pigeon, band-tailed pigeon, common wood pigeon, crested pigeon, and green imperial pigeon.
Doves are some of the most popular birds in the world. There are actually quite a few different species of dove, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some doves look very similar to other bird species, but there are a few that look so much like doves that they can easily be mistaken for them.
Let’s take a closer look at some of these birds that look like doves.
Examples of Birds that Look Like Doves
1. Afep Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba unicincta |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | African tropical rainforest |
The Afep pigeon is a species of rock pigeon that is found in Africa. These birds are very similar in appearance to the domestic pigeons that are found in cities around the world. They are slightly larger than most doves, but they have the same rounded body and head shape.
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2. Band-Tailed Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Patagioenas fasciata |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | dry mountain forests of the Southwest and wet forests of the Pacific Coast |
The band-tailed pigeon is a species of pigeon that is found in North and South America. These birds are very similar in appearance to doves, but they are slightly larger and have a distinctive band of feathers around their tail.
3. Common Wood Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba palumbus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | parts of Europe and Asia |
The common wood pigeon is one of the most widespread birds in the world. It is also one of the largest species of dove, and it can be found in Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa.
The common wood pigeon has a grey body with white markings on its wings. Its tail is long and pointed, and it has a black stripe running down its back.
4. Crested Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Ocyphaps lophotes |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia |
The crested pigeon is a species of pigeons that is found in Australia. These birds are very similar in appearance to doves, but they have a crest on their head. The male bird has a black crest, while the female bird has a white crest.
5. Green Imperial Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Ducula aenea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Nepal, southern India and Sri Lanka eastwards to southern China, Indonesia and the Philippines |
The Green Imperial Pigeon is a large bird that is found in the forests of Southeast Asia. They are mostly green with a white belly, and they have a long tail. These birds can grow to be about 18 inches long, and they weigh around two pounds.
6. Kererū
| Scientific Name | Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | New Zealand Pigeon |
The kererū is a large wood pigeon that is native to New Zealand. These birds are usually around 38 cm in length, and they have a wingspan of up to 60 cm. The kererū is the only species of bird in New Zealand that can fly for long distances.
7. Kingfishers
| Scientific Name | Alcedinidae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia, Asia, and Africa |
Kingfishers are a type of bird that can be found all over the world. They come in a variety of colors, but most kingfishers are brightly colored. They have long beaks and short legs. Some kingfishers also have crest on their heads.
8. Metallic Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba vitiensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa and surrounding southwest Pacific islands |
The metallic pigeon is a species of bird that is found in the forests of Southeast Asia. These birds get their name from their iridescent feathers, which can appear to be metalic in certain light.
Metallic pigeons are actually quite large, and can grow up to 16 inches in length. They are mostly blue-gray in color, with a white underbelly.
9. Mourning Dove
| Scientific Name | Zenaida macroura |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America, including forest clearings, farmland, suburbs, prairies, deserts |
The mourning dove is the most common type of dove in North America. They are a medium-sized bird with a long tail and pointed wings. The body is mostly gray with some white on the belly and undertail. The head is gray with a black band around the neck.
10. Pale-Capped Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba punicea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | northern and northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam |
The Pale-capped Pigeon is a species of dove that is found in the forests of Central and South America. These birds get their name from the pale gray color of their heads. They are about the same size as a mourning dove, and they have a dark tail with white spots.
11. Passenger Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Ectopistes migratorius |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Ontario and the Great Lakes states south through states north of the Appalachian Mountains |
The passenger pigeon was once the most abundant bird in North America. They were so plentiful that they were said to darken the sky when they flew overhead. Sadly, these birds were hunted to extinction and are now only found in museums.
12. Pied Imperial Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Ducula bicolor |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Southeast Asia |
The pied imperial pigeon is a species of dove that is native to the Philippines. These birds are mostly white with black spots on their wings. They can grow to be about 16 inches long, and they weigh around 24 ounces.
13. Pink Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Nesoenas mayeri |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Mauritius |
The pink pigeon is a species of dove that is native to the island of Mauritius. These birds are similar in size and shape to the European common wood pigeon, but they have a pink plumage. The pink pigeons are also the only doves that have red eyes.
14. Pink-Necked Green Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Treron vernans |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Southeast Asia, found from Myanmar and Vietnam south through to the major islands of Indonesia and the Philippines |
The pink-necked green pigeon is a species of dove that is found in Southeast Asia. These birds get their name from the pinkish coloration on their necks. They are medium-sized birds that can grow to be about 14 inches in length.
15. Red-Billed Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Patagioenas flavirostris |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | throughout coastal and lowland areas of Mexico and Central America |
The red-billed pigeon is a species of dove that is found in tropical regions of the world. These birds are a bit larger than your average dove, but they still have that same plump body shape. They get their name from the red bill that they have, which is a striking feature on these birds.
16. Ring-Tailed Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Patagioenas caribaea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Pacific Coast and mountain forests of the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Central America |
The ring-tailed pigeon is a species of bird that is found in Africa. These birds are very similar in appearance to doves, and they are often mistaken for them.
The main difference between these two birds is the tail. Ring-tailed pigeons have a black and white striped tail, while doves have a solid white tail.
17. Rock Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba livia |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Canada and Alaska south through the United States, Mexico, and Central America |
The rock pigeon is probably the most common bird that looks like a dove. They are found all over the world, and they are one of the most widespread bird species. They are usually grey or brown in color, but they can also be white or black. Rock pigeons are usually about the same size as doves, but they can sometimes be a bit larger.
18. Scaly-Naped Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Patagioenas squamosa |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Caribbean |
The scaly-naped pigeon is a species of dove that is found in the forests of Central and South America. These birds get their name from the scaly pattern on their necks. They are also sometimes called the blue-eyed quail-dove because of their blue eyes.
19. Silvery Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba argentina |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Indonesia and Malaysia |
The silvery pigeon is a species of dove that is found in the forests of Asia. They get their name from their silver-grey plumage. These birds are about the same size as a rock pigeon, and they have a long tail and a black beak.
20. Speckled Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba guinea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | sub-Saharan Africa |
The Speckled Pigeon is a species of dove that is found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. These birds get their name from the fact that they have a lot of white spots on their feathers. They are also very good at flying, and can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.
21. Victoria Crowned Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Goura victoria |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | New Guinea |
The Victoria crowned pigeon is a species of dove that is native to the forests of New Guinea. These birds are actually quite large, and they can grow to be between 24 – 28 inches long.
They are mostly blue-gray in color, with a white crest on their heads. These pigeons get their name from the fact that they look like they are wearing a crown.
22. White-Collared Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba albitorques |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Ethiopian highlands in Eritrea and Ethiopia |
The White-Collared Pigeon is a species of dove that is found in the tropical forests of South America. These birds get their name from the white collar that goes around their neck. They are about the same size as a domestic pigeon and have a similar body shape.
23. White-Crowned Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Patagioenas leucocephala |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, and the Florida Keys, although a few individuals probably nest inland in Monroe and Miami-Dade counties |
The white-winged dove is a species of dove that is native to the southeastern United States. It is one of the most common doves in that area, and it is also found in parts of Mexico and Central America.
The white-winged dove gets its name from the prominent white stripes on its wings. It is a relatively small bird, measuring only about 12 inches in length.
24. White-Headed Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba leucomela |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia |
The White-headed Pigeon is a species of Old World dove that is found in woodlands, forests, and jungles. They are mostly white with a black neck and head. These birds can often be seen perching in trees or flying in flocks.
25. Yellow-Eyed Pigeon
| Scientific Name | Columba eversmanni |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, north-east Iran and extreme north-west China |
The yellow-eyed pigeon is a species of dove that is found in the forests of southern India. These birds get their name from the characteristic yellow eyes that they have. They are very similar in appearance to doves, but they are actually a bit larger.
Conclusion
Doves come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all share some common features. They are typically small to medium-sized birds, and they have rounded bodies and heads.
Some birds that look like doves include the mourning dove, the rock dove, and the white-winged dove. These birds are all members of the same family as doves, and they share many of the same characteristics. However, there are some key differences between these birds and true doves.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.