columba

Columba is the Latin word for dove or pigeon and is used as a proper name in biology, astronomy, and hagiography. In biology, Columba is a genus of birds in the family Columbidae, comprising many pigeon and dove species. The wild rock dove, Columba livia, is the best-known member and the ancestor of domestic pigeons. Other common species in the genus include the stock dove (Columba oenas) and the common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus). The genus is distributed across multiple continents, with several species adapted to urban or forest habitats.

Saint Columba, or Columcille, was an Irish missionary who founded the monastery on Iona in the 6th century and played a key role in the Christianization of Scotland. He is venerated as a saint in Catholic and Anglican traditions; his feast day is typically observed on June 9.

In astronomy, Columba is a small, faint constellation in the southern sky. It was introduced in the late 16th century by the cartographer Petrus Plancius, and its name means "the Dove" in Latin. Columba lies near Lepus, Caelum, Horologium, and Pictor and contains a small number of dim stars and a few notable deep-sky objects.