Why is this bird called the symbol of peace and is there a difference between pigeons and doves? The dove is from the animal family Columbidae and the order Columbiformes whereas the pigeon is from the animal family Columbidae and the order of Comlumbiformes. Doves are not from any specific species of that class and doves are not from any specific species from the class.
The Etymonline dictionary gives the following definition.
bird of the family Columbidae, early Middle English douve, 12c., probably from Old English dufe- (found only in compounds), from Proto-Germanic dubon (source also of Old Saxon duba, Old Norse dufa, Swedish duva, Middle Dutch duve, Dutch duif, Old High German tuba, German Taube, Gothic -dubo), perhaps related to words for "dive," but the application is not clear unless it be somehow in reference to its flight.
To sum this up the word "dove" has similar origins to jump in the lake or dunk in water or dive. Commonly when people speak of dove they speak of a smaller bird with all white feathers. It's is the bird you may expect to see coming out of the Jordan river.
The Etymonline dictionary gives the following definition.
late 14c. (early 13c. as a surname), from Old French pigeon "young dove" (13c.), probably from Vulgar Latin *pibionem, dissimilation from Late Latin pipionem (nominative pipio) "squab, young chirping bird" (3c.), from pipire "to peep, chirp," of imitative origin. Meaning "one easily duped" is from 1590s. Replaced culver (Old English culufre, from Vulgar Latin *columbra, from Latin columbula) and native dove.
To sum it up pigeon is a newer vulgar word which focuses on the peep and chirp not the dive. These birds are not know for their flying ability but for their vulgar appetites. If they can't get what they want they hold public demonstrations in the street. They don't care if they block traffic as long as they get what they want.
These pigeons remind me of myself when I was a teenager protesting the gulf war. We never thought about the traffic that was being blocked. We just enjoyed the demonstration. I think these birds are the same way. Kind of the rebel without a clue. I'm sure they don't know what they are protesting for but they really enjoy doing it.
Every time a car tries to get by these birds regroup. If a bus plows through they scatter. They own the road and just like seagulls they work as one so when one flies they all fly and when one sits they all sit.
I am keen to most birds and rather enjoy their company as you can see from these two Macaw making out over the summer. I don't think there is anything wrong with nature taking its course.
The difference is the food these guys eat and the disease they spread. I don't want to get into all the diseases our folks in 
I hope these pictures made you smile,
All videos and pictures here are works of mineopoly unless otherwise indicated.
As long as I'm at it I would like to nominate 
Loving Joe Raposo,
For all you pigeon fans here is one from Bert:
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Peace,
@mineopoly