Are Pigeons and Doves in the same family?

Question

I was under the impression that Doves were white Pigeons. Please clarify this issue.

Answer 1

All the answers above are accurate.  To give you a bit more info, when "white doves" are released at events - sporting, weddings, etc., the birds are white racing pigeons (Columba livia).  These are medium sized birds with rounded tail feathers (identical species to feral pigeons you see on the street, but a domestic breed that weighs more and can home up to 600 miles if from a good strain.)

When you often see white doves in cages at weddings or events, then what you are usually seeing are white ringneck doves (Streptopelia roseogrisea).  These are smaller birds with long tail feathers.  These have the homing instinct of a brick and seldom if ever survive long if they get out or are released.

Answer 2

Yes they are in the same family it is just that pigeons are more common in cities but they are still related also just different species

Answer 3

Pigeons and doves constitute the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerine birds. In general parlance the terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably. In ornithological practice, there is a tendency for "dove" to be used for smaller species and "pigeon" for larger ones, but this is in no way consistently applied, and historically the common names for these birds involve a great deal of variation between the term "dove" and "pigeon." This family occurs worldwide, but the greatest variety is in the Indomalaya and Australasia ecozones. The young doves and pigeons are called "squabs."

Answer 4

Your question intrigued me so I did a little checking..The link should help.