The Ultimate Pigeon Quiz

It is estimated that there are 300 species.

They live throughout the world, except for the really cold regions of the Arctic and Antarctic.

The small white domestic pigeon, or dove, symbolizes peace.

They are symbols of love.

They seem affectionate when courting and mate for life.

The dodo, extinct since about 1662, was a flightless member of the pigeon family. It contributed the expression "as dead as a dodo."

Doves range in size between 6 and 12 inches (15 to 30 cm)

The largest pigeon reaches about 33 inches (84 cm) in length.

Most doves have pointed tails, while most pigeons have round or square tails.

They eat grain, fruits, berries and various plants.

Tropical doves have bright hues and bold patterns.

Pigeons are strong, swift and graceful in flight.

They suck up the water without tilting their heads.

The male incubates during the day, while the female takes over at night.

For the first few days, they are fed pigeon's milk, a secretion from the parents' crops that chemically resembles mammals' milk.

At three to five weeks they are fully feathered and able to leave the nest.

Pigeons are famous for their homing instincts. They can find their way home from more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away.

The Victoria crowned pigeon of New Guinea is 33 inches (84 cm) long.

The last passenger pigeon died in the Cincinnati Zoological Garden in 1914.

Pigeons, known as carrier pigeons, have been used to carry messages, especially during time of war.