Patagioenas is a genus of New World pigeons that was split from the genus Columba (Johnson et al. 2001).

There are 17 species, which can be assigned to 4 groups based on mtDNA cytochrome b, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2, as well as the nuclear β-fibrinogen intron 7 data (Johnson et al. 2001) combined with analyses of vocalizations and morphology (Mahler & Tubaro 2001):

caribaea (Band-tailed) group: Tails with terminal bands and iridescent neck; rows of low single coos. Apparently the most basal group (Johnson et al. 2001).

• Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
• Chilean Pigeon, Patagioenas araucana
• Ring-tailed Pigeon, Patagioenas caribaea

leucocephala group: Iridescent neck and dark plumage, or white edged outer wing coverts, or scaly appearance; groups of triple coos with the first call in each drawn out except in speciosa

• White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala
• Scaly-naped Pigeon, Patagioenas squamosa
• Scaled Pigeon, Patagioenas speciosa
• Picazuro Pigeon, Patagioenas picazuro
• Bare-eyed Pigeon, Patagioenas corensis
• Spot-winged Pigeon, Patagioenas maculosa

cayennensis group: No display plumage except iridescent head in cayennensis; groups of double or triple coos with the first call in each short

• Pale-vented Pigeon, Patagioenas cayennensis
• Red-billed Pigeon, Patagioenas flavirostris
• Peruvian Pigeon, Patagioenas oenops
• Plain Pigeon, Patagioenas inornata

plumbea group (Oenoenas): Small size, plain plumage, rounded tails, small bills, phrase composed of high single coos

• Plumbeous Pigeon, Patagioenas plumbea
• Ruddy Pigeon, Patagioenas subvinacea
• Short-billed Pigeon, Patagioenas nigrirostris
• Dusky Pigeon, Patagioenas goodsoni

A fossil species (Curtis Pigeon) initially described as Columba, Patagioenas micula (Early Pliocene of Curtis Ranch, USA) is known.

References

• (2003): Aves de Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego y Península Antártcica. Editorial Fantástico Sur Birding Ltda ISBN 956-8007-03-2
• (2001): A molecular phylogeny of the dove genera Streptopelia and Columba. Auk 118(4): 874-887. PDF fulltext
• (2001): Relationship between song characters and morphology in New World pigeons. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 74(4): 533–539. (HTML abstract)