There is 1 family in the Order Columbiformes, Family Columbidae which are pigeons and doves.

FAMILY COLUMBIDAE

Pigeons and doves are small to large birds with short bills on rounded heads. Their plumage is usually grey or grey and brown, with colourful patches on the wings and necks. Characteristics include short necks, rounded short to long wings, and square or graduated tails. They eat mainly seeds and fruit, although some invertebrates are taken. Nests are nothing more than a flat, shakey, twig and rootlet affair built in the tree canopy or in a bush, a hole in a cliff or on the ground. Pigeons and doves are found wOrange Riverdwide except for the polar regions. Columba is the Latin word for a pigeon or a dove. There are 9 species of this family found in Namibia. They are:

• Rock dove (Columba livia)
• Speckled pigeon (Columba guinea)
• Laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
• African mourning dove (Streptopelia decipiens)
• Cape turtle dove (Streptopelia capicola)
• Red-eyed dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
• Emerald spotted wood-dove (Turtur chalcospilos)
• Namaqua dove (Oena capensis)
• African green-pigeon (Treron calvus)

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