Red-eyed dove

This article is about the bird species similar in appearance to eurasian collared doves. For other uses, see Ring dove (disambiguation).

Red-eyed dove
Red-eyed dove in Zimbabwe, and a recording of the bird from South Africa
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
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 dove that is widespread and common in Sub-Saharan Africa. It has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2004. ^[1]

Taxonomy

The red-eyed dove was formally described by the German naturalist Eduard Rüppell in 1835 from birds seen in the Taranta Mountains of Eritrea. He coined the binomial name Columba semitorquata. ^{[2] [3]} The specific epithet is combines the Latin semi- meaning "half-" or "small" and torquatus meaning "collared". ^[4] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. ^[5]

Description

Adult in flight, Botswana

Adult in Hlane Royal National Park, Eswatini

The red-eyed dove is typically 30 cm (12 in) in length and 162–310 grams. It is the largest of the “ringneck” species of dove. Birds from the Ethiopian Highlands are largest; those from West Africa and coastal Kenya are smallest. ^[6]

The sexes are alike. Juveniles are duller and browner. ^[7]

The forehead is a pale bluish gray that merges to a darker hue on the crown. The neck, breast, and underparts, are dark mauve-pink to wine-red. Upperparts are grayish brown. Primaries are black. Outer wing-coverts are dark slaty blue. Flanks, sides of rump, and underwing-coverts are bluish gray. Rectrices are dark gray basally, light brownish gray on the terminal half. Neck has a black half-collar. Iris varies from yellowish to orange to red or orange-brown. Orbital skin is purplish red. Bill is black. Legs are purplish red. Most of the feathers have reddish buff or reddish brown edges and indistinct dark subterminal bars. Neck collar is indistinct and restricted to the sides of neck. Legs, orbital skin, and iris are dull. ^[8]

Distribution and habitat

It is distributed through most of sub-Saharan Africa, except in desert zones. It is a common, if not abundant, species in most habitats other than deserts. 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.

Behavior

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

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Streptopelia semitorquata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22690499A93275741. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22690499A93275741.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
2. Rüppell, Eduard (1835). Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehörig (in German). Vol. Vögel. Frankfurt am Main: S. Schmerber. pp. 66–67, Plate 23 fig. 2.
3. Peters, James Lee, ed. (1937). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 3. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 93.
4. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 353. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
5. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2020). "Pigeons". IOC World Bird List Version 10.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
6. "Red-eyed Dove: Streptopelia semitorquata". Birds of the World. Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
7. "Red-eyed Dove". Birds of the World.
8. "Red-eyed Dove". Birds of the World.

• "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.