Red-eyed dove

Red-eyed dove
Adult in South Africa
Adult in flight, Botswana
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	Streptopelia
Species:	S. semitorquata
Binomial name
Streptopelia semitorquata (Rüppell, 1837)

The red-eyed dove (Streptopelia semitorquata) is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in Africa south of the Sahara. It is a relative of the turtledove of North Africa and Europe.

Description

Red-eyed dove is a largish, stocky pigeon, typically 30 cm (12 inches) in length. Its back, wings and tail are pale brown. When flying, it shows blackish flight feathers. The head and underparts are dark vinous-pink, shading to pale grey on the face. There is a black hind neck patch edged with white. The legs and a patch of bare skin around the eye are red. The call is a loud doo-doo-du-du.

Sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller than adults, and have scalloping on the body feathers.

Red-eyed doves eat grass seeds, grains and other vegetation. They often forage on the ground.

Distribution and habitat

It is distributed throuh most of Africa except in desert zones. It is a common, if not abundant, species in most habitats other than desert. Like several other species in this genus, they are not particularly gregarious and often feed alone or in pairs.They can be found in forests near rivers.

Behaviour

Females lay two white eggs at a time. This species builds a stick nest in a tree and lays two white eggs. Its flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.

References

• "Red-eyed dove." Britannica School. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2015. Web. 1 Oct. 2015.
• Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley. ISBN 1-873403-32-1

External links

• Red-eyed dove - Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.