Columbids

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of birds including doves and pigeons, known for their stout bodies and small heads
2. These birds are often recognized for their cooing sounds and social behavior
3. A group of avian species characterized by a robust physique and short necks, predominantly found in various habitats worldwide

Etymology: "Columbids" is the plural of "columbid", a noun for any member of the pigeon family. The family takes its scientific name, Columbidae, from the Latin "columba", meaning dove or pigeon, so the English word is a back-formation from that Latin-based family name. Biologists form such names by adding the suffix "-idae" to a genus, and the English term simply drops the family ending and adds "-id" to the stem of the scientific name. The result is a word that looks like it should be a Latin plural but is really an English coinage built on a Latin name. The final "-s" in "columbids" is the ordinary English plural, so the whole word is a neat chain: Latin bird name, then scientific family name, then English noun.

Synonyms: pigeons, doves, bird species, avians, fowl