Patagioenas is a genus of New World pigeons whose distinctness from the genus Columba was long disputed but ultimately confirmed. It is basal to the Columba-Streptopelia radiation with their ancestors diverging from that lineage likely over 8 million years ago. While the biogeographic pattern of this group suggests that the ancestors of typical pigeons and turtle-doves settled the Old World from the Americas, Patagioenas may also be the offspring of Old World pigeons that radiated into different genera later, given that the cuckoo-doves (Macropygia) of Southeast Asia also seem to be closely related.[1]
The genus Patagioenas was introduced by German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1853, with the white-crowned pigeon (Patagioenas leucocephala) as the type species.[2] The genus name combines the Ancient Greek patageō meaning "to clatter" and oinas meaning "pigeon".[3]
There are 17 species of Patagioenas, which can be assigned to four groups based on mtDNA cytochrome b, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2, as well as the nuclear β-fibrinogen intron 7 data combined with analyses of vocalizations and morphology. They could be considered subgenera, but one remains unnamed so they are only informally listed here:[4]
caribaea/band-tailed group (Chloroenas): Characterized by tails with terminal bands and iridescent neck; rows of low single coos. Apparently the most basal group.
leucocephala group (Patagioenas sensu stricto): Characterized by iridescent neck and dark plumage, or white edged outer wing coverts, or scaly appearance; groups of triple coos with the first call in each drawn out except in speciosa
cayennensis group: No display plumage except iridescent head in cayennensis; groups of double or triple coos with the first call in each short
plumbea group (Oenoenas): Small size, plain plumage, rounded tails, small bills, phrase composed of high single coos
A fossil species (Curtis pigeon) initially placed in Chloroenas, Patagioenas micula (Early Pliocene of Curtis Ranch, USA) is known. A small member of this genus, it probably indeed belonged to the band-tailed group.