Dove / Pigeon Coloring Pages

A bird that brings peace and love to the whole world

Dove / Pigeons are birds that are very familiar to us, and you can see them in towns and nature all over the world. White Dove / Pigeons are especially famous for having a special meaning as a symbol of peace and hope.

What are their personality and symbols?

Dove / Pigeons are very lucky birds that symbolise peace, love, honesty, and happiness.

• Symbol of peace: A white Dove / Pigeon carrying an olive branch is a worldwide symbol of peace.
• Love and honesty: People say that once they become a pair, they stay together for life. That is why they are also cared for as a symbol of love and a happy marriage.
• Role as a messenger: Long ago, they played an important role as homing Dove / Pigeons, carrying important news far away.

Main types of Dove / Pigeons

There are a few types of Dove / Pigeons that you often see in Japan, as well as special Dove / Pigeons.

1. Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove):
   • Features: This is the Dove / Pigeon you see most often in towns in Japan. They were originally an introduced species from places like Europe that became wild.
   • Feather color: Most of them are a bluish-gray all over, but their neck shines green and purple in the light. A key feature is the 2 black bars on their wings.
2. Oriental Turtle Dove:
   • Features: Along with the feral pigeon, this is a Japanese Dove / Pigeon you see very often. You can often find them in places with more nature than feral pigeons like.
   • Feather color: They are brownish (reddish-brown) all over, and they have scale-like patterns on their back feathers.
3. Racing pigeon / Homing Dove / Pigeon:
   • Features: These special Dove / Pigeons were bred and trained to improve the great ability to find their way home that feral pigeons have.

Various feather colors of Dove / Pigeons (for feral pigeons)

Because feral pigeons have a long history of being kept by humans, there are Dove / Pigeons in many colors, not just the wild-like gray.

• Barred (Futabiki): This is the most common color, close to wild rock doves, with gray wings and 2 black bars.
• White (Albino, Barbary Dove, etc.):
  • White Dove / Pigeons are often seen as a symbol of peace.
  • Some are born all white because a gene change called albinism makes their natural color faint. (Albino Dove / Pigeons also have reddish eyes.)
• Black: Some are black or dark gray all over.
• Mosaic (Pied): Some have a mosaic pattern with many colors mixed together on their feathers.

How to Choose Colors: Think About Their Round Bodies and Shiny Feathers!

When you color the Dove / Pigeon coloring page, use white, the symbol of peace, or the gentle gray of a rock dove as your base color. Add a nice accent with the shiny colors on its neck!

• Basic colors: Let's pick white, light gray, dark gray, green or purple (for the shiny neck), and red (for the feet).

Colors for each motif:

• Dove / Pigeon:
  • Body: Color the main part light gray. Use dark gray or black for the tips of the wings and the bands to make it pop!
  • Neck: Color it bluish-gray first. Then, add a very light layer of green or purple on top to make it look shiny!
• Oriental Turtle Dove / Pigeon: Color the base brown or reddish-brown. Add small scale patterns on the back using dark brown to make it look just like an Oriental Turtle Dove / Pigeon!
• White Dove / Pigeon: Use white for the base. Add soft shadows on the underside of the body and where the feathers overlap using a tiny bit of light blue or gray. This will highlight its pure white color!

How to color with a 3D look: Show overlapping feathers and a soft, fluffy feel!

To show the powerful flapping wings and the soft, round body, think about "shadows" and "lights". Places that will be in shadow:

• Use a darker color than your main color to add shadows where the feathers overlap, where the neck meets the chest, and where the body touches the ground to show how round its body is.

Where the light shines:

• Try coloring bright spots, like the top of the wings and the middle of the back, with bright colors or leave them white. That way, you can make them look shiny and glossy!

Let’s Add Texture!

Colored pencils: For the wings, color carefully along the lines! If you paint them with a sweeping, wind-cutting feel, they will look spread out nice and strong.

Tips to enjoy your Dove / Pigeon coloring page!

• A symbol of hope!
  • Try adding an olive leaf or small flower in green to the Dove / Pigeon's beak to turn it into a messenger of peace!
• Wide open sky!
  • If you color a blue sky and white clouds behind the flying Dove / Pigeon, your picture will look full of hope, just like it is flying freely in the big sky!