Doves: Symbolism, Habitat, and Life Cycle

Doves and Their Symbolism

• Symbol of peace in many religions and cultures
• Used to represent God in Christian religion
• Released into the sky at ceremonies, weddings, and important events

Habitat and Distribution

• Found all over the world, except Antarctica
• Hardy birds that can live in desert areas, tropical forests, mountains, and woodlands
• Eat insects, seeds, nuts, and fruits, and almost anything in areas where people feed them

Breeding and Life Cycle

• Females lay two eggs at a time
• Eggs hatch in a few weeks
• Most doves live around 3-5 years in the wild, but longer in captivity

Doves and Pigeons

• Both belong to the Columbidae scientific family
• Pigeons are usually bigger and gray, while doves are smaller and white with long tail feathers
• 300 species of doves, each with unique characteristics
• Most species have small heads, pointed bills, rounded bodies, long wings, and tail feathers

Conservation

• 60% of dove species are at risk of becoming endangered
• Threats include new predators, hunting, and habitat loss due to development and deforestation
• Some species have become extinct over the years

Fun Facts

• Each dove species has a slightly different coo sound
• Doves are found in large numbers in Australia and parts of Asia
• Both male and female doves produce milk to feed their babies
• Some species mate for life
• Doves can be aggressive towards each other, with territorial invasions leading to attacks and death
• Largest dove species is the Victoria crowned pigeon, reaching 2-3 feet long
• Smallest dove species is the pygmy ground dove, reaching 6 inches long