Dove:
Dove is a stocky bird with a small head, short legs and a cooing voice who feeds on seeds or fruit. Doves are smaller and more delicate than pigeons. The nests of Doves are usually made of sticks. Dove represents the Holy Spirit. Doves are usually white in color. Doves can be found throughout the world except dry and hostile Sahara and extremely cold and dry arctic and Antarctic. Young doves are called “squabs”. They can attract so many humans towards their peaceful and friendly nature. The female dove birds lay two eggs at a time.
Pigeon:
Pigeon is a stout bodied bird who feeds on seed or fruit with a small head, short legs and a cooing voice. The domestic pigeon is called the “Rock Dove”. They are typically grey and white plumage in colour. A group of pigeons flying together is called a “kit”. Pigeons are gentle, plump, small-billed birds with a saddle between the bill and forehead. Because of their long wings and powerful flight muscles, they are strong swift fliers. Young pigeons are called “squabs”. Pigeons have unique feet which allow them to perch along with characteristically plump bodies, stubby beaks and legs, and small legs.
Differences:
| Basis | Dove | Pigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Definition (www.oxforddictionaries.com) |
A stocky bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, feeding on seeds or fruit. Doves are generally smaller and more delicate than pigeons, but many kinds have been given both names. | A stout seed- or fruit-eating bird with a small head, short legs, and a cooing voice, typically having grey and white plumage. |
| Synonyms | Columbia, angel, bird, songbird, owl, eagle | Roost, loft, bird cage, dovecot, coop, perch |
| Antonyms | Churl, creep, jerk, joker, devil, beast and cad | Man, idle |
| Types | There are various types of doves: White dove, diamond dove, cape dove, etc. | |
| Word origin | The word dove was originated from Middle English: from Old Norse dúfa . | The word pigeon was originated from late Middle English: from Old French pijon, denoting a young bird, especially a young dove, from an alteration of late Latin pipio(n-) ‘young cheeping bird,’ of imitative origin. |
| Size | Doves are smaller. | Pigeons are medium-sized but larger than doves. |
| Color | Doves are white. | Pigeons are bluish, grey with black stripes. |
| Noise | They make soft cooing sounds. | They make loud cooing noises. |
| Used | Doves are often used to represent a symbol of peace as well as the spirit in biblical sense. | Pigeons are being used as sacrifice, food, transporting letters, etc. |
| Weight | Doves are lighter. | Pigeons are tending to be heavier. |
| Tails | They have pointy tails. | They have blunt tails. |
| Birds type | Doves are homely birds. | Pigeons are distance birds. |
| Pronunciation |
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| Also called | They are called “the dove of peace”. | They are called “rock dove”. |
| Species | There are more than 300 species of doves. | There are 250 species of pigeons. |
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