Spotted Dove

Spotted dove

How to identify spotted dove

Spotted dove which is found in eastern India is medium in size. Tail is somewhat long. Length of this dove is 27-30 cm. and it's weight is about 100-200 gm.

The forehead, crown, stress around eyes and ear converts of this spotted dove are pinkish to greyish. The cheek and throat are pinkish brown. A black patch is there from the gape to the eyes. The lower mantle, back and upper tail-converts are speckled and greyish brown in colour. It is a sticky bird with square tipped tail. Adults has pale brown upper parts, streaked with dark buff. Breast is pinkish grey. Balish flight feathers are visible when it fly's.

Another special identification mark is that the spotted dove has a broad black half collar finely spotted with white coloured plumage around the back and side of the neck. Bill is blakish. Eyes of this dove are reddish brown with blackish iris. Legs and feet are red.

Both male and female are looks alike. But the female is slightly smaller and it's neck band is duller to some extent. Younger dove has duller plumage and font have the rear neck patch. Iris are brownish yellow and legs are dark grey.

Call of this spotted dove is sonorous cooing " Kou-Kour-Kour" , a low " coo-croo-coo" , sift " te-croo- crop" and three notes of " coo-coo-croo" with emphasis at the end.

Habitat

This spotted doves are found in Eastern India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and south and eastern part of China.

Natural habitat of this bird is subtropical and tropical dry forest, moist deciduous forest, wetlands. They are often found in farm land, grass land and agricultural field. Their food is mainly seeds, berries, fruits and human food regiments. Insects and termites are also in their food list.

Nesting and breeding

Breeding time is mainly in Spring and Summer. They make the nest on leafy trees, bushes, shrubs, window ledges, crevices of walls. It is made of twigs, grass, straws etc. Bobbing up and down if head is the display of courtship.

Female lays two glossy white eggs. Incubation period is 15 days. Both the parents take care of the young bird for ten days. The young fledge in about 15 days and become independent after 35 days.

Scientific name : Spilopedia chinensis.

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