Phylogentic relationship of Columbiformes

Origin and evolution
 
 
 
Columbiformes

 
 
Cuculiformes

 
 
 
 
Pterocliformes

 
 
Mesitornithiformes

 
 
 
Phylogentic relationship of Columbiformes in the Neoaves clade[8]
Columbiformes, is one of the most diverse non-passerine clades of neoavians, and its origin are in the Cretaceous[9] and the result of a rapid diversification at the end of the K-Pg boundary.[10] Recent whole genome analyses have placed columbiformes close related to cuckoos (Cuculiformes), forming a group that is the sister clade of a group conformed by the sandgrouses (Pterocliformes) and mesites (Mesitornithiformes).[11][12][8]

Taxonomy and systematics
See also: List of Columbidae genera and List of Columbidae species
The name Columbidae for the family was introduced by the English zoologist William Elford Leach in a guide to the contents of the British Museum published in 1820.[13][14] Columbidae is the only living family in the order Columbiformes. The sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) were formerly placed here, but were moved to a separate order Pterocliformes based on anatomical differences (e.g., they are unable to drink by “sucking” or “pumping”).[15]