Spotted Dove vs African Collared Dove

Spotted Dove

Spilopelia chinensis

Also known as: Mountain Dove, Pearl-Necked Dove, Lace-Necked Dove, Spotted Turtle-Dove

How to recognise a spotted dove?

General appearance

The Spotted Dove is an easily recognizable species. They range in size from 11-12 inches in length. The primary coloration of their plumage is a lovely light grey and pinkish below, with a distinctive black patch covered in white spots at the base of the throat.

Male vs female

Sexual dimorphism, which means observable differences in appearance between males and females, is not strongly present in spotted doves. Both males and females are similar in appearance. However, males may have slightly more vibrant colors and might be a bit larger than females.

Juvenile

Juvenile spotted doves display less vivid colorations than the adults, with a relatively plain, unspotted neck and pale undertail. They also lack the striking neck patch that is seen in adult spotted doves. Their coloration becomes progressively more similar to the adults as they mature.

Size

11.0 - 12.6 in/3.9 - 7.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Spotted Dove primarily inhabits light woodland and parklike areas in southern and southeastern Asia including India, Sri Lanka, and China.

Additional range

They have adapted to a range of environments including gardens, parks, and farmland. Introduced populations are found in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and urban Southern California, USA.

Range Map

What do spotted doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The spotted dove primarily feeds on a variety of seeds, including those from grass, grains, and weeds. They are also known to consume small insects and invertebrates as a supplement to their diet. These birds often forage on the ground and in open spaces, making use of their keen eyesight to locate food sources.

Bird feeders

Spotted doves are commonly attracted to bird feeders containing a mix of seeds. They particularly enjoy millet, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn, which are frequently offered in garden bird feeders. These foods provide a convenient alternative when natural food sources are scarce.

What does a spotted dove sound like?

The Spotted Dove's vocalizations are soft, cooing calls, often described as a low, gentle "coo-coo-coo." Its territorial song consists of cooing notes, punctuated by a distinct pause before the final note. Notably, the pitch and volume of their calls may vary slightly depending on the individual or situation. These doves frequently repeat their melodic song, particularly in the early morning and late evening. The sounds they produce are peaceful and soothing, and contribute to their overall reputation as calm, pleasant birds.

Call

Audio by Manoj Karingamadathil

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Bram Piot

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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African Collared Dove

Streptopelia roseogrisea

How to recognise an African collared dove?

General appearance

The African Collared-Dove is slightly smaller than the Eurasian Collared-Dove. They generally possess a light grey feather coat with distinctive black semi-circular line on the back of their neck, giving them their collared name. It is difficult to distinguish them from the Eurasian variety as their appearance in the wild is rare.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, making it difficult to differentiate between sexes based on visual features. Both genders strut the same light grey coloration with contrasting black neck collars. Size and behavior patterns may sometimes provide clues, but visual identification remains challenging.

Juvenile

Juvenile African Collared-Doves resemble adults but lack the characteristic black collar. Their plumage is slightly duller than adults and they feature less distinct markings. With age, they develop the collar and their feather coloring shifts towards the grey hue distinctive of the species.

Size

9.8 - 10.6 in/4.6 - 5.9 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The African collared dove prefers semi-arid regions, savannas, and open woodlands. It thrives in areas with access to water and sparse tree cover.

Additional range

Though primarily found in Sub-Saharan Africa, it occasionally occupies urban gardens and agricultural lands, demonstrating adaptability to human-altered landscapes.

Range Map

What do African collared doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The African collared dove primarily feeds on a variety of seeds, which constitute the main component of its natural diet. It is known to forage on the ground, seeking out seeds from grasses and other plants. They may also consume small quantities of insects and other invertebrates, especially during the breeding season when protein requirements are higher. Fruits and berries are occasionally part of their diet, providing essential vitamins and minerals.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, African collared doves are attracted to a range of seeds commonly provided, such as millet, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn. These birds are also adaptive and may consume commercially available birdseed mixes. They may visit feeders frequently, especially in urban and suburban areas where such food sources are regularly replenished by humans.

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Spotted Dove

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African Collared Dove

Spotted Dove

Spilopelia chinensis

Also known as: Mountain Dove, Pearl-Necked Dove, Lace-Necked Dove, Spotted Turtle-Dove

General appearance

The Spotted Dove is an easily recognizable species. They range in size from 11-12 inches in length. The primary coloration of their plumage is a lovely light grey and pinkish below, with a distinctive black patch covered in white spots at the base of the throat.

Male vs female

Sexual dimorphism, which means observable differences in appearance between males and females, is not strongly present in spotted doves. Both males and females are similar in appearance. However, males may have slightly more vibrant colors and might be a bit larger than females.

Juvenile

Juvenile spotted doves display less vivid colorations than the adults, with a relatively plain, unspotted neck and pale undertail. They also lack the striking neck patch that is seen in adult spotted doves. Their coloration becomes progressively more similar to the adults as they mature.

Size

11.0 - 12.6 in/3.9 - 7.2 oz

There's more to learn about Spotted Dove

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African Collared Dove

Streptopelia roseogrisea

General appearance

The African Collared-Dove is slightly smaller than the Eurasian Collared-Dove. They generally possess a light grey feather coat with distinctive black semi-circular line on the back of their neck, giving them their collared name. It is difficult to distinguish them from the Eurasian variety as their appearance in the wild is rare.

Male vs female

Males and females are similar in appearance, making it difficult to differentiate between sexes based on visual features. Both genders strut the same light grey coloration with contrasting black neck collars. Size and behavior patterns may sometimes provide clues, but visual identification remains challenging.

Juvenile

Juvenile African Collared-Doves resemble adults but lack the characteristic black collar. Their plumage is slightly duller than adults and they feature less distinct markings. With age, they develop the collar and their feather coloring shifts towards the grey hue distinctive of the species.

Size

9.8 - 10.6 in/4.6 - 5.9 oz

There's more to learn about African Collared Dove

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How to tell the Spotted Dove from the African Collared Dove

Visual differences

The Spotted Dove (11-12 inches) is slightly larger than the African Collared Dove (10-10.6 inches). Spotted Doves feature a light grey plumage with a distinctive black patch with white spots at the base of the throat, whereas the African Collared Dove has a light grey coat with a black semi-circular collar on the neck. Both species exhibit minimal sexual dimorphism. Juveniles of both lack distinctive markings; however, the Spotted Dove juveniles have an unspotted neck while African Collared juveniles lack a collar. Both species have a similar light grey overall plumage.

Key differences and behavior

The Spotted Dove and African Collared Dove exhibit distinct behavioral traits that aid in field identification. Spotted Doves, prevalent in southern Asia and adapting to urban landscapes, perform elaborate mating dances characterized by cooing and aerial displays. In contrast, African Collared Doves, residing in semi-arid areas of Sub-Saharan Africa, are sociable and travel in flocks, often near water. Spotted Doves are ground foragers, primarily eating seeds and occasionally insects, favoring gardens and parks. African Collared Doves also forage on the ground, with a diet including seeds and sometimes fruits and insects for added nutrition. Both species build simple twig nests, though the Spotted Dove prefers urban branches while the African Collared Dove uses sparse tree cover. Despite morphological similarities, these behavioral and habitat preferences distinguish them in the field.