A dovecote was historically a building intended to house pigeons and doves which were not only important food sources but also status symbols. The dovecote had multiple entrances and provided space for roosting and nesting. The French used the term pigeonnier which is also used in Louisiana. In Medieval Europe and Colonial America, dovecotes were frequently freestanding structures that resembled towers, but they have commonly been incorporated into the eaves and gable ends of traditional American architecture.