FOUND WHITE DOVE

Question
HOW DO I TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOVE AND A PIGEON?
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Last month a large white dove appeared on my window sill. The weather had been warmer than usual, for january in Montreal, canada. I fed the bird some mix seed, it was happy
to eat. he stayed for a week and a half, then the weather became extremly cold, i opened the door and it came in.
since then it has been in the house. I have never had a bird
and i dont know anything about doves. He seems to be in good health, except for some feathers half missing opn his tail. Are ther any health risks to my family? Should i bring it to a vet? I am confused at what to do with it.
Its still extremly cold outside, and he seems happy in the makeshift cage. How could i make him happier? What kind of food, ect.. If you could help me i would be very grateful, thank-you, Fay


-----Answer-----
hello first are you sure its ot just a white pidgeon? if it is it ca carry alot of dieseses that can harm you and your family.

Answer
Hello
White ring neck doves can and can not have a ring on there neck most dont( a colored ring of feathers), ring neck doves are the lenth of a cocatile but much much bulkier, a white pidgeon will be two to three times the size of a ring neck dove


here is a link to a picture of  a white Pidgeon:

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Pigeons/Homers/WhiteHomer2.JPEG


take note of its shape and belo is a link to a picture of a white ring neck dove again take note and compare to teh bird youve found:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y34/freekykiki/gretchenandwilliam03.jpg   

notice how less bulky the doves are compaiered to the pidgen.   


home raised pigeons from breeders would be safe to keep in teh hosue thou would be better outdoors in aviariys but wild caught ones can be very hazardus to your helth, if you find it to bea pigeon try calling a locle wild life rescue or locle animal shelter maybe they can refer you to a place to drop the bird off so it can be releaseed again if you don't wish to do that yourself. Best of luck.