Examples of birds that look like pigeons include the African collared dove, barbary dove, beautiful fruit dove,black-naped fruit dove, and brown cuckoo-dove.
Birds that look like pigeons can be found all over the world. These birds typically have a gray or brown appearance, and they tend to eat seeds and insects. While many people might not be able to tell the difference between these birds and pigeons, there are actually some key differences that you can look for.
While pigeons and doves belong to the same family of birds (Columbidae), which consists of more than 300 species of birds. They share similar features like thick and round bodies, short necks, and thin peaks, but doves are generally of a smaller stature while pigeons are often larger and stubbier.
In this post, we will discuss the differences between these birds, as well as provide some examples of species that fall into this category.
Examples of Birds that Look Like Pigeons
1. African Collared Dove
| Scientific Name | Streptopelia roseogrisea |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Sahel, northern parts of the Horn of Africa, and southwestern Arabia |
The African collared dove is a species of bird that is native to Africa. This bird has a gray body with black markings on its wings. It also has a white ring around its neck, which is where it gets its name. These birds share some similarities with pigeons, such as their plump bodies and short tails. In addition, both birds tend to be grayish in color, although the African Collared Dove is usually a bit lighter than a pigeon.
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2. Barbary Dove
| Scientific Name | Streptopelia risoria |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North Africa |
The Barbary Dove is a species of bird that is native to the Canary Islands, Africa, and Europe. This bird has a gray body with black spots on its wings. The Barbary Dove is a small bird, and it typically weighs less than 4 ounces. They are found in open habitats such as grasslands, savannas, and woodlands.
Barbary Doves are social birds, and often form flocks of up to 100 individuals, and may look like a flock of pigeons from the ground.
3. Beautiful Fruit Dove
| Scientific Name | Ptilinopus pulchellus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | rainforests of New Guinea and the islands of Batanta, Waigeo, Salawati, and Misool in West Papua, Indonesia |
The Beautiful Fruit Dove is one of the most brightly colored dove species. They are found in the forests of Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. These birds feed on fruits and berries, as their name suggests. While they may take a similar shape to some pigeons, they’re much more colorful, so shouldn’t be mistaken too easily.
4. Black-Naped Fruit Dove
| Scientific Name | Ptilinopus melanospilus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines |
The black-naped fruit dove is a species of bird that is found in Southeast Asia. This bird has a gray body with a black neck and head. The black-naped fruit dove is about the same size as a common pigeon, but it has a shorter tail. It is in the same bird species as the pigeon, called the Columbidae.
5. Brown Cuckoo-Dove
| Scientific Name | Macropygia phasianella |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern Australia |
The brown cuckoo-dove is a species of bird that is found in the forests of Australia and New Guinea. These birds are brown with white spots on their wings, and they typically eat fruits and leaves. This dove is most commonly found in wooded areas. It nests in trees, making a platform of twigs and leaves. The Brown Cuckoo-Dove is not endangered, but its numbers are declining due to habitat loss.
6. Caribbean Dove
| Scientific Name | Leptotila jamaicensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Belize, the Cayman Islands, Colombia (San Andrés island), Honduras (Bay Islands), Jamaica, and Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula) |
The Caribbean dove is a small, gray bird that is found in the Caribbean Islands. These birds typically have a white band around their neck and a black streak that goes down their center. Some pigeons also have a white band around their neck, meaning some amateur birders might mistake the two.
7. Cinnamon Ground-Dove
| Scientific Name | Gallicolumba rufigula |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | New Guinea |
The Cinnamon Ground-Dove is a small, brown bird that is found in the woodlands and forests of Central America. This species has a reddish-brown tint to its plumage, and it gets its name from the cinnamon-like coloration on its wings. Keep an eye out for the red tint that is not found on common pigeons.
8. Common Ground-Dove
| Scientific Name | Columbina passerina |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the southern United States, parts of Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America |
This bird is found in the southeastern United States and parts of Central America. It is brown with a white belly, and it has a black band across its eyes. It is one of the most commonly seen doves in many parts of the USA (hence its name), but it is not a pigeon.
9. Crested Quail-Dove
| Scientific Name | Geotrygon versicolor |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Jamaica |
The crested quail-dove is a bird that is found in the forests of South America. This bird has a gray body with brown spots, and it has a crest on its head. The quail-dove also has a black stripe that goes down its neck.
10. Diamond Dove
| Scientific Name | Geopelia cuneata |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Australia |
The diamond dove is a small bird that is found in Australia. These birds have a gray or brown body with white spots on their wings. They eat seeds and insects, and they typically live in pairs or small groups.
11. Eurasian Collared Dove
| Scientific Name | Streptopelia decaocto |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | urban and suburban areas throughout much of the U.S. except the Northeast |
The Eurasian collared dove is a type of bird that looks very similar to a pigeon. These birds are usually gray or brown in color, and they have a black collar around their neck. These birds typically live in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
12. European Turtle Dove
| Scientific Name | Streptopelia turtur |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | most of Europe and the Middle East and including Turkey and North Africa, although it is rare in northern Scandinavia and Russia |
The European turtle dove is another type of bird that looks a lot like a pigeon. These birds are usually gray or brown in color, and they have a black patch on their neck. These birds typically live in Europe and Asia.
13. Grenada Dove
| Scientific Name | Leptotila wellsi |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | island of Grenada |
The Grenada Dove is a species of pigeon that is native to the island of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. These birds are often mistaken for common pigeons, but they are actually quite different.
Grenada Doves are a lot rarer than common pigeons. They are also smaller in size and have a more slender body shape. The most distinguishing feature of Grenada Doves is their long, pointed tails.
14. Grey-Headed Dove
| Scientific Name | Leptotila plumbeiceps |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern Mexico to Colombia |
The grey-headed dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is found in Australasia, Oceania, and parts of Asia. This species is also known as the Pacific Dove or White-Eye Dove.
15. Inca Dove
| Scientific Name | Columbina inca |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Southwest |
The Inca Dove is a member of the Columbidae family and is native to South America. These birds are often mistaken for pigeons, as they share many physical similarities. The Inca Dove has a reddish-brown body with darker brown spots on its wings. Its tail is long and tapered, and it has a white band around its neck.
16. Key West Quail-Dove
| Scientific Name | Geotrygon chrysia |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Bahamas and, except for Jamaica, throughout the Greater Antilles |
The Key West quail-dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. The bird is endemic to the island of Key West in the Florida Keys, United States.
The Key West quail-dove is a plump bird with a short tail and small head. The bird’s plumage is gray-brown with darker stripes on the wings. The quail-dove has a red eye ring and bill. The bird is about 10 inches (25 cm) long and weighs 5 ounces (140 grams).
17. Luzon Bleeding-Heart
| Scientific Name | Gallicolumba luzonica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | the Philippines |
The Luzon bleeding-heart is a species of bird in the Lou varius genus found only on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is a member of the dove family Columbidae. The bird is dark gray with a single white band across its chest.
18. Mourning Collared Dove
| Scientific Name | Streptopelia decipiens |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Africa South of the Sahara |
The mourning collared dove is a medium-sized bird that is a member of the dove and pigeon family. This bird gets its name from the black collar that goes around its neck. The mourning collared dove is found in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
19. Mourning Dove
| Scientific Name | Zenaida macroura |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family. The bird is also known as the Carolina pigeon and the rain Dove. It ranges across most of North America
20. Oriental Turtle Dove
| Scientific Name | Streptopelia orientalis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern Asia |
The Oriental Turtle Dove is a species of pigeon that is native to Asia. It gets its name from the characteristic mark on its head, which resembles a turtle shell. These birds are usually brown or gray in coloration with white underparts. They can grow up to 13 inches in length and have a wingspan of 18-20 inches.
21. Ring-Necked Dove
| Scientific Name | Streptopelia capicola |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Africa |
The ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola) is a species of a dove that is found in Africa, southern Europe, and Asia. This bird gets its name from the black ring around its neck, which is a key identifying feature. These birds are usually gray or brown in color with a white underbelly.
22. Rock Dove
| Scientific Name | Columba livia |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | worldwide, including throughout all of North America |
The rock dove is the wild ancestor of the domesticated pigeon that is often seen in cities. They are typically gray with two black bars on their wings, but they can also be white or pied.
23. Ruddy Ground-Dove
| Scientific Name | Columbina talpacoti |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Mexico south to Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay, and northern Argentina, and on Trinidad and Tobago |
The Ruddy Ground-Dove is a small plump bird with a short tail and long legs. It is found in woodlands, scrublands, and savannas of South America. The upper parts of this bird are reddish-brown while the breast and belly are grayish.
24. Spotted Dove
| Scientific Name | Spilopelia chinensis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
The spotted dove is a small, plump bird that is found in woodlands and scrublands across Southeast Asia. The bird gets its name from the black spots on its white feathers. It feeds on seeds, fruits, and insects.
25. White-Tipped Dove
| Scientific Name | Leptotila verreauxi |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Americas |
The White-tipped Dove is a small, plump bird with a short tail. The body is grayish-brown with white tips on the wings and tail. The bill is black and the legs are red. This species is found in woodlands and scrublands of South America.
26. White-Winged Dove
| Scientific Name | Zenaida asiatica |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Alaska to Ontario, Maine, Newfoundland |
The White-winged Dove is a species of a dove that is found in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is a plump bird with a short tail and wings, and its plumage is pale grayish-brown with white spots on the wings. The male has a black band across its breast, while the female does not.
27. Zebra Dove
| Scientific Name | Geopelia striata |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Southern Thailand, Tenasserim, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java |
The zebra dove is a small, plump bird that is found in Southeast Asia. It is named for the stripes on its neck and wings, which are brown and white in color. The zebra dove is about the same size as a mourning dove and has a similar cooing call.
Conclusion
Birds that look like pigeons come in all shapes and sizes. This list of birds includes doves, turtle doves, ground doves, mourning doves, cuckoo doves, white-winged ground doves, Caribbean doves, Eurasian collared doves, and brown cuckoo-doves, white-headed doves, and ringed turtle-doves. Each of these birds has its own unique plumage, but they all share some similar physical characteristics to pigeons.
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.