Columbidae
1
9.6
A family of birds that includes pigeons and doves
- noun
- /kəˈlʌmbɪˌdeɪ/
- Specialized
:
Columbidae
- Birdwatchers often identify species belonging to the Columbidae family in urban parks.
- the Columbidae family
Examples
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The Columbidae family includes commonly seen birds like doves and pigeons.
-
(Both the Zenaida dove and the city, or rock, pigeon—Columba livia—belong to the family Columbidae.)
Academic text (1996) -
Many people enjoy feeding the Columbidae as they gather in large groups in public spaces.
Synonyms
6.7
A group of birds that includes doves and pigeons
is the general term for the same bird family without the taxonomic order
Compounds
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word Columbidae comes from the Latin columba, meaning 'dove' or 'pigeon', and the ending -idae means 'family' in animal names. So, Columbidae simply means the family of doves and pigeons, which is why scientists use it for that group of birds.