Editing Columbidae (section)

===Feeding===
[[File:Treron Sieboldii.jpg|thumb|[[White-bellied green pigeon]] (''Treron sieboldii'') feeding on fruit]]
Seeds and fruit form the major component of the diets of pigeons and doves,<ref name=":02"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.birdfeedersspot.com/wild-birds-basics-tips/what-do-doves-eat.html|title=What Do Doves Eat – Best Food For Doves|website=www.birdfeedersspot.com|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=8 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208144856/https://www.birdfeedersspot.com/wild-birds-basics-tips/what-do-doves-eat.html|url-status=usurped}}</ref> and the family can be loosely divided between seed-eating ([[Granivore|granivorous]]) species, and fruit-and-[[Mast seeding|mast]]-eating ([[Frugivore|frugivorous]]) species, though many species consume both.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://www.birdsofeden.co.za/pigeons-and-doves---whats-differance_article_op_view_id_1672|title=Pigeons And Doves – What's The Differance?|publisher=birdsofeden.co.za|date=22 July 2011|access-date=23 April 2017|archive-date=20 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120135153/https://www.birdsofeden.co.za/pigeons-and-doves---whats-differance_article_op_view_id_1672}}</ref>

The granivorous species typically feed on seed found on the ground, whereas the frugivorous species are more [[Arboreal locomotion|arboreal]], tending to feed in trees.<ref name=":2" /> The morphological adaptations used to distinguish between the two groups include granivores tending to having thick walls in their gizzards, [[Gastrointestinal tract|intestines]], and [[Esophagus|esophagi]], with the frugivores evolved with thin walls,<ref name=":02"/> and the fruit-eating species have short intestines, as opposed to the seed eaters having longer intestines.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k_7UBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA462|title=A Dictionary of Birds|last1=Campbell|first1=Bruce|last2=Lack|first2=Elizabeth|date=2010|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4081-3838-0}}</ref> Frugivores are capable of clinging to branches and even hang upside down to reach fruit.<ref name="HBW2"/><ref name=":2" />

In addition to fruit and seeds, a number of other food items are taken by many species. Some, particularly the ground doves and quail-doves, eat a large number of prey items such as [[Insectivore|insects]] and [[Vermivore|worms]].<ref name=":2" /> One species, the [[atoll fruit dove]], is specialised in taking insect and [[reptile]] prey.<ref name=":2" /> [[Snail]]s, [[moth]]s, and other insects are taken by [[white-crowned pigeon]]s, [[orange fruit dove]]s, and [[ruddy ground dove]]s.<ref name="HBW2"/> Flowers are also taken by some species.<ref name="CornellLab" />

Urban feral pigeons, descendants of domestic [[rock dove]]s (''Columbia livia''), [[Urban wildlife|reside in urban environments]], disturbing their natural feeding habits. They depend on human activities and interactions to obtain food, causing them to forage for [[Food loss and waste|spilled food]] or food provided by humans.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Belguermi |first1=Ahmed |last2=Bovet |first2=Dalila |last3=Anouck |first3=Pascal |last4=Prevot-Julliard |first4=Anne-Caroline |last5=Jalme |first5=Michel Saint |last6=Rat-Fishcer |first6=Lauriane |last7=Leboucher |first7=Gerard |title=Pigeons discriminate between human feeders |journal=Animal Cognition |date=2011 |volume=14 |issue=6 |pages=909–914 |doi=10.1007/s10071-011-0420-7 |pmid=21647649 |s2cid=8632076 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-011-0420-7}}</ref>
[[File:Spotted Dove and its egg.jpg|thumb|150px|Spotted dove (''[[Spilopelia chinensis]]'') on its nest, with one unhatched egg and one hatchling]]