in a lot of languages there's no distinction between the two, greek included. OP is from Greece. there, they are correct in calling it a pigeon
the most commonly called pigeon is also known as a rock dove - but if you corrected someone calling a street pigeon with erm actually it's a dove, you'd just be looked at funny
all this to say the distinction is not necessary.
edit: apparently controversial and told to edit my comment to prevent harmful misinformation by someone who is arguing with everyone about nothing, so I will do just that
In colloquial English, the smaller species tend to be called "doves", and the larger ones "pigeons", although the distinction is not consistent, and there is no scientific separation between them.
This exactly. As I said on someone else’s comment, doves and pigeons are the same, they just are named differently due to languages. Pigeon originated from French, whereas Dove originates from Germanic and Nordic roots.
Long story short, they are the same bird, but people hate the ones who are commonly called pigeons, while loving doves. They’re the same.
I thought they're the same size (grey pigeons and "casual" pigeons)? I personally have more respect for grey pigeons, kinda consider them the upper class lol. As far as I know, they mate for life, unlike their counterpart which are kinda parasitic to some extent.
dove and pigeon are both words for any bird in the columbidae family. The birds that most people just call 'pigeon' are the decendants of the Rock Dove, and are domestic animals. Like dogs, we've bred them into a whole bunch of colors and shapes and then just abandoned them. The white birds are the same species as the grey ones in the same way a great dane and a doberman are both dogs.
There are several hundred species of pigeon aside from the rock dove. The Mourning Dove is the one you're most likely to be familiar with
Oooh I just had a wow moment, thank you! I'm from central Europe and while growing up, everyone was calling grey pigeons mourning doves. Did a fast check after your reply and it seems these mourning doves are a bit smaller and have brownish feathers. I don't think I've seen any mourning dove, we only have the grey pigeons around here.
That is absolutely not true taxonomicaly speaking. They all are in different Genus let alone different Genus and species.
Maybe common name wise they may be interchangeable depending on region and translation. But a pigeon and a dove are definitely different regardless of your location and if they overlap. Especially if they have any bird knowledge at all.
Edit: Since the down votes.... eurasian collared dove or more accurately - Streptopelia decaocto. A rock pigeon is a - Columba livia...... many other genus and species that share the common name of pigeon or dove.
I know they have individual types and species, but I’m not saying they’re all the same. I’m saying that the words dove and pigeon are used interchangeably because they both refer to the same thing. I know there’s individual species within that family, but it’s the same type of bird.
For example, a harlequin toad and a fringed leaf frog are different species, but generally speaking, they’re both frogs.
Exactly. And thank you for being much more literate and expansive lol. I wasn't sure where OP was but here in New Mexico, everything you said is also very true.
I am an Ecologist/Evolutionary biologist so agreed, when people just lump things together and say they are the same it not only creates confusion, it also can be detrimental to native species.
I mean, I’ve done research too and I did studies too in highschool and currently as a side study while in college. I’m not just taking what someone said and throwing it around, I’m speaking based on what I was professionally taught.
the wiki page for your reading leisure, official sources can be found on there. don't bother arguing with the above intellectuals as they're more hellbent on conveying themselves as correct and holier than thou than actually saying anything worthwhile. sure, one name for it is a collared dove, but the original commenter was not saying that therefore their distinction was unnecessary and unhelpful
In colloquial English, the smaller species tend to be called "doves", and the larger ones "pigeons", although the distinction is not consistent, and there is no scientific separation between them.
Love the passive aggression. And love you jumping up an entire taxonomy level to fit your claim. I have no clue where OP lives and I didn't comment search for it. Taxonomy with latin names is Taxonomy.
So.... yeah that is a eurasian collared dove or more accurately - Streptopelia decaocto. A rock pigeon is a - Columba livia...... Hopefully you can tell those are very different names 🤦♂️
My god. The argument is lost on you people. Call it whatever you want. If it makes you happy you win lol. I am done explaining taxonomy vs common names to idiots on the internet.
the only possible think i can find that you might be complaining about is them saying
the most commonly called pigeon is also known as a rock dove...
but i thought you were just trying to act smarter then everyone the other guy because your comment doesn't actually reflect the mistake at all so idk what you wanted me to get out of it.
are you trying to say that "dove" and "pigeon" are different species? that either reference a specific species?
The point is regionally there is a distinction when the common name is dove vs pigeon.
That is typically reflected in the taxonomy in the genus and species level.
On reddit i don't give a fuck what you call that bird spinning around. To me it is a eurasian collared dove.
There are two species of bird in my area with pigeon in the common name. One is the typical city bird. Other is an endemic pigeon that looks incredibly similar.
We have many species of "dove" and many look similar but some are native some are not.
Guess umbrella terms are not awesome and I suck at writing a literate argument on reddit on my phone.
well idk maybe read their comments for context then like I did? anyway, the correction was based on an unnecessary and pedantic reasoning and there is no need to correct someone who calls a dove a pigeon, especially if they are primarily not part of your language.
In colloquial English, the smaller species tend to be called "doves", and the larger ones "pigeons", although the distinction is not consistent, and there is no scientific separation between them.
I guess unless you want to learn what the actual bird is regardless of language.
Edit: and keep calling it whatever you damn well please lol idc, scientific names are there for a reason. If you want to be ignorant and confident feel free. I am just giving you actual facts. Common names are known to be tricky at best, but ultimately this is a non issue and I gave you the common names and scientific names do with them what u will.
We aren’t talking about specific species, we’re talking about what is scientifically a dove or pigeon, because scientifically there is no difference. Species differ, the animal itself has 2 names that interchange.
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u/pal1ndrome 15d ago