Taxonomy and Habits of Pigeons

Abstract

THE taxonomic groupings of the species of pigeons and doves are based primarily on structural characters. Classifications differ in the rank assigned to these characters. In the last fifty years the ranking has fluctuated between extremes. Thus, Salvadori (1893) divides the order Columbae into the suborders Columbae and Didi. W. L. Sclater (1930) reduces these suborders to family rank, Columbidae and Raphidae. Salvadori recognizes five families within his suborder Columbae: Treronidae (fruit pigeons), Columbidae ('true' pigeons), Peristeridae ('ground doves'), Gouridae (crowned pigeons), and Didunculidae (tooth-billed pigeon). Sclater, dealing with African birds only, embraces the first three in his family Columbidae, which carries the implication that he must include therein also Salvadori's Gouridae and Didunculidae. He does not even accord Salvadori's families the rank of subfamilies. Peters's (1937) classification follows Sclater's scheme of two families: Raphidae and Columbidae, but divides the latter into four subfamilies: Treroninae, Columbinae, Gourinae, and Didunculinae. Within the Columbinae, Peters's order of listing is virtually that of Salvadori's families Treronidae, Columbidae, Peristeridae, Gouridae, Didunculidae, and I might add, of Salvadori's subfamilies as well. The taxonomic pendulum alternately swinging from lumping to splitting of genera will perhaps in time prove to be a cultural phenomenon of the same order as the alternations in dress fashions (cf. Richardson and Kroeber, 1940). Best suited for this discussion is the hierarchical grouping set forth by Salvadori. Naturally, I am concerned only with his suborder Columbae, which he divides into five families: Treronidae, Columbidae, Peristeridae, Gouridae, and Didunculidae. I have never kept members of Gouridae nor of Didunculidae. I have had a few Treronidae, but never bred them. The ensuing remarks concern some of the characteristic actions of the living birds and the extent to which these actions coincide with the taxonomic groupings. On the whole there is some degree of correlation between Salvadori's groupings and the actions of the living birds. The following brief notes on characteristic actions of certain pigeons and doves are based on observations of individuals of a number of species, which the writer has kept as aviary inmates at various times over a considerable number of years.