The large bird genus Columba comprises a group of medium to large stout-bodied pigeons, often referred to as the typical pigeons. The term columba is the latinized form of the Ancient Greek κόλυμβος (kolumbos) “a diver”, from κολυμβάω (kolumbao), “to dive, plunge headlong, swim”. Aristophanes (Birds, 304) and others use the word κολυμβίς (kolumbis) "diver", for the name of the bird, because of its swimming motion in the air.

As with other genera in the family, the terms dove and pigeon are used interchangeably, although smaller species are more likely to be called doves. The species commonly referred to just as the "pigeon" is the feral Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). It is this species that has given rise to the majority of domesticated pigeon varieties, including the racing pigeon.

Most species in this genus are found in the Old World, but there are a few representatives in the Americas, and some species, notably the Feral Pigeon, have been introduced outside their natural range.

The American species of Columba should be split off as a separate genus, Patagioenas, as it was done by the American Ornithological Union. That the American radiation constitutes a distinct lineage is borne out by molecular evidence

Species remaining in Columba are:

• Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
• Domestic and feral pigeons, Columba livia domestica
• Stock Pigeon, Columba oenas
• Trocaz Pigeon, Columba trocaz
• Bolle's Pigeon, Columba bollii
• Laurel Pigeon, Columba junoniae
• Hill Pigeon, Columba rupestris
• Snow Pigeon, Columba leuconota
• Speckled Pigeon, Columba guinea
• White-collared Pigeon, Columba albitorques
• Pale-backed Pigeon, Columba eversmanni
• Somali Pigeon, Columba oliviae
• Wood Pigeon or Common Woodpigeon, Columba palumbus
• Madeiran Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus maderensis - extinct (early 20th century)
• Afep Pigeon, Columba unicincta
• African Olive-pigeon, Columba arquatrix
• Cameroon Olive-pigeon, Columba sjostedti
• São Tomé Olive-pigeon, Columba thomensis
• Comoro Olive-pigeon, Columba polleni
• Speckled Wood-pigeon, Columba hodgsonii
• White-naped Pigeon, Columba albinucha
• Ashy Wood-pigeon, Columba pulchricollis
• Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Columba elphinstonii
• Sri Lanka Wood-pigeon, Columba torringtoni
• Pale-capped Pigeon, Columba punicea
• Silvery Pigeon, Columba argentina - possibly extinct (mid-late 20th century?)
• Andaman Wood-pigeon, Columba palumboides
• Japanese Wood-pigeon, Columba janthina
• Ogasawara Wood-pigeon, Columba janthina nitens - extinct (1980s)
• Bonin Wood-pigeon, Columba versicolor - extinct (c.1890)
• Ryukyu Wood-pigeon, Columba jouyi - extinct (late 1930s)
• Metallic Pigeon or White-throated Pigeon, Columba vitiensis
• Lord Howe Metallic Pigeon, Columba vitiensis godmanae - extinct (1853)
• Tongan Metallic Pigeon, Columba vitiensis ssp. - extinct (late 18th century); validity doubtful
• White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucomela
• Yellow-legged Pigeon, Columba pallidiceps
• Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Columba delegorguei
• Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Columba iriditorques
• São Tomé Bronze-naped Pigeon, Columba malherbii
• African Lemon-dove, Columba larvata - sometimes placed in Aplopelia
• São Tomé Lemon-dove, Columba simplex - sometimes placed in Aplopelia

A fossil species, Columba omnisanctorum, was described from the Early Pliocene (5.3-3.6 mya) of the Gargano Peninsula and surroundings, Italy. A supposed "falcon" fossil from nearby contemporary and Middle Pliocene (3.6-2.6 mya) sites may either be a distinct species Columba pisana or the same, in which case the latter name would apply.

Another prehistoric pigeon, Columba congi, was described from Early Pleistocene remains found in the famous Zhoukoudian caves in China.

Footnotes

References

• (2001): A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba. Auk 118(4): 874-887. PDF fulltext
• (2002): Cenozoic Birds of the World, Part 1: Europe. Ninox Press, Prague. ISBN 80-901105-3-8 PDF fulltext