Columbiformes (pigeons and doves) are currently one of the most threatened avian orders—a consequence of a range of pressures, including habitat loss and degradation, invasive alien species, hunting and climate change. The impacts of these are exacerbated by the restricted ranges of many species (Columbiformes have a propensity for endemism, particularly on islands). Of the 354 extant species, 72 (20%) are currently threatened with extinction and 47 are categorized as Near Threatened. A long list of extinct species includes the passenger pigeon Ectopistes migratorius and dodo Raphus cucullatus.

Despite this, the order has not received a level of attention proportionate to the number of species that are threatened, especially considering the vital ecological roles of many Columbiformes (e.g. as seed dispersers and keystone species in tropical forests). This is evident in the paucity of information on the status of wild populations: the data used to assess population sizes for most threatened Columbiformes is ranked as ‘poor’ by BirdLife International.

A determination to reverse this trend was the impetus behind the inauguration in March 2021 of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Pigeon and Dove Specialist Group, hosted by Toledo Zoo in Ohio, USA. The founding membership comprises conservation practitioners, aviculturists, academics and experts with specialist knowledge in Columbiform phylogeny, avian medicine, wildlife trade and the control of invasive mammalian predators.

Key activities of the Specialist Group will include collaborating with BirdLife International to assess and monitor the status of Columbiform species, raising the profile of threatened pigeons and doves, and convening expertise for conservation. These activities will entail facilitating communication between organizations involved in ex situ and in situ programmes and between the scientific community and the holders of traditional ecological knowledge. The group intends to partner with the SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group to draft action plans for priority species, will seek to source the funding required for the implementation of these plans, and will prioritize monitoring and evaluation of conservation efforts.

We believe this group has the potential to become a driving force for the conservation of Columbiformes worldwide, and we are committed to developing a diverse and gender-balanced network of people who will help achieve this. Prospective members are encouraged to contact the group Co-Chairs, Joe Wood and Chuck Cerbini.