Diamond Doves (very small) and Ringneck Doves (also called 'laughing doves' due to their call or 'peace doves' when they are all white) —are domesticated birds sold in pet stores and by private breeders. They are sometimes available at animal shelters.  Please don’t release them into the wild. They will die an ugly death due to freezing, starvation, or predation by raptors, cats, and dogs. Other wild birds pick on them and weaken them by wounding them. This is not what you want to happen to these sweet birds. Call Flitesong at 719-510-1980 if you need help placing doves or know someone who needs help with their doves.

And, PLEASE, do not buy doves with the purpose in mind of releasing them to mark an occasion, as nice as that may seem. The white birds you see being released at weddings and funerals are NOT DOVES. They are actually white homing pigeons that return quickly to their lofts. They have been trained to return to their loft. The handler tosses them gently into the air to fly free for awhile in honor of the occasion, knowing these homing pigeons will return safely the same day.

If you have any questions about homing pigeons or

pigeon releases, go to www.google.com and search those terms or contact White Birds Unlimited, 5324 Alkire Street, Arvada, CO 80002

Email: whitebirdsunlimited@yahoo.com or call Tom Loux, owner of White Birds Unlimited, at 1-303-424-3323 for assistance.

Also see the "Tracing Bands" page on this website for ways to help a found pigeon with a leg band on it.