The common image of a pure white bird symbolizing peace often leads to the question of whether all doves share this coloration. The answer is no; the global population of doves and pigeons exhibits a stunning array of colors far beyond simple white. This perception is tied to a specific history of domestication rather than the true diversity found in nature. The vast majority of species classified as doves are richly colored birds adapted to blend into their diverse environments.
The Columbidae Family and Color Variation
Doves and pigeons belong to the same avian family, Columbidae, which contains over 350 species found across nearly every continent except Antarctica. There is no scientific distinction between a “dove” and a “pigeon,” though smaller species are generally referred to as doves. This extensive family features a wide spectrum of plumage colors driven by their diet and habitat.
The colors observed in these birds are determined by two factors: pigments and feather structure. Species that primarily eat seeds (granivores) often display duller shades of gray, brown, and buff, offering camouflage against the ground where they forage. Conversely, species that feed heavily on fruit (frugivores) tend to exhibit much brighter, more varied colors.
The brilliant hues in the feathers of some tropical doves result from structural coloration, where the microscopic structure of the feather barbs interferes with light to produce iridescence. This color variation serves important biological functions, including species recognition, attracting mates, and providing effective camouflage within their ecological niches. White plumage is rare in wild Columbidae species, as it makes the bird an easy target for predators.
Examples of Doves That Are Not White
The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), one of the most widespread doves in North America, provides a common example of natural coloration. This bird is characterized by a delicate, dusty gray-brown to buffy-tan plumage, accented by small black spots on its wings. Adult males possess a subtle, pale pinkish tinge on the breast and a light blue-gray crown, demonstrating a subdued palette well-suited for open country.
A striking contrast is offered by the Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica), the closest living relative of the extinct dodo. This species is iridescent, with a head and neck covered in dark gray feathers that transition into a mantle of metallic green, blue, and bronze on its back and wings. Its shimmering appearance results from structural coloration, which changes with the light.
The Ptilinopus genus, commonly known as fruit doves, showcases the most vibrant colors in the family, reflecting their fruit-rich diet. Species like the Pink-headed Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus porphyreus) feature a deep rose-pink head and neck contrasted by a green body and a gray breast. The Many-colored Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus perousii) males exhibit pale yellow-white plumage, a crimson crown, and a red band across the back.
The Specific Species Behind the Symbolic White Dove
The association of doves with the color white is rooted in cultural symbolism and linked to a specific, domesticated variant. The bird responsible for the symbolic white dove image is typically a selectively bred form of the Rock Dove (Columba livia), the same species from which common city pigeons descend. The wild, ancestral Rock Dove is not white, but a bluish-gray bird with two distinct black bars on each wing.
Centuries of artificial selection have resulted in breeds with pure white plumage, often favored for ceremonies and performances. These ceremonial birds are domestic pigeons specifically bred for their lack of pigment. The pure white doves used in releases are sometimes an albino or leucistic variant, or a mutation of the Ringneck Dove (Streptopelia risoria), known as the Barbary Dove.
The white color trait is maintained through careful breeding and is a departure from the wild type, making pure white doves rare in nature. The gene responsible for white plumage, such as the Endothelin Receptor B (EDNRB), has been identified as a target of this selective breeding. This intentional selection for a pigment-free feather trait is why the pure white dove became a recognizable symbol of peace and purity.