Origin of Pigeons

• The terms "pigeon" and "dove," especially in languages other than English, 
• are often used interchangeably, with "dove" generally having connotations of 
• grace, gentleness, and religious significance, rather than of speciation. In 
• fact, pigeons and doves are representatives of several distinct genera of the 
• subfamily Columbidae.  
• Wild pigeons and doves are more or less worldwide in their distribution, with 
• a number of species of each being native to North America. A few species 
• such as the band tailed pigeon (Columba sasciata<) and the mourning dove 
• (Sonaida macroura) are seen in parts of Canada (Goodwin, 1967).  
• Domesticated pigeons (Columba livia domestica) and the common "street 
• pigeons," which are feral derivatives of domestic pigeons, are not indigenous 
• to the Americas, but were first brought to this continent by the French and 
• the English, to Quebec and Nova Scotia respectively, circa 1607.  
• All today's many varieties of domestic  pigeons derive from the rock pigeon 
• (rock dove) of Europe, Asia, and North Africa (Levi, 1969). The domesticated 
• doves (Streptopelia risoria) Ringneck, Laughing, Barbary, etc., originated 
• from a wild type North African ancestor (Streptopelia roseogrisea) and are not 
• found in the feral state in the Americas (Goodwin, 1967). The number of dove breeders has increased considerably in recent years, particularly in the USA 
• (Burger, 1974). Numerous research and  zoological exhibit colonies are also 
• maintained in both the USA and Canada (Kendall and Scanlon, 1981; Mulder, 
• 1978).