Oriental Turtle Dove vs Spotted Dove

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Also known as: Rufous Turtle Dove

How to recognise an Oriental turtle dove?

General appearance

The Oriental turtle dove is a large bird measuring 13-14 inches (33-35 cm), similar in size to a crow or robin. It exhibits a bold scaly pattern characterized by rich rufous, buff, or whitish edges on the dark feathers of the back, scapulars, and wings. It has a primarily smooth buffy gray head and underparts. A unique feature includes a patch of black and white lines on the side of its neck. The wings are broad and pointed, while the tail is rounded and square-tipped.

Male vs female

There is not much sexual dimorphism in the Oriental Turtle Dove, and the appearance of males and females is largely similar. Both genders display the same coloration and physical traits, making them difficult to distinguish purely based on appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Oriental turtle doves closely resemble the adults but may have a slightly duller color palette. Over time, as they mature, their colors may become more vibrant and they gain the distinctive scaly pattern on their upper body. They also develop the characteristic black and white neck patches.

Size

13.0 - 13.8 in/5.8 - 9.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Oriental turtle dove primarily inhabits regions in Asia, including China, Japan, and the Himalayas. It prefers temperate forested areas, open woodland, and agricultural regions.

Additional range

Interestingly, the Oriental turtle dove can also be found in city parks and gardens, showing this bird’s adaptability to diverse environments.

Range Map

What do Oriental turtle doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The Oriental turtle dove primarily feeds on plant-based items such as seeds, grains, and fruits. It forages on the ground, searching for seeds from various grasses and weeds. Additionally, it consumes small fruits and berries, particularly favoring those from shrubs and low trees. In agricultural areas, this dove may be found eating surplus grains like rice and wheat spilled during harvesting.

Bird feeders

Oriental turtle doves visiting bird feeders are often attracted to seeds and grains, such as millet and cracked corn. They also consume sunflower seeds, which are a common offering in feeders. Bird enthusiasts may spot these doves picking up spillage beneath feeders, as they prefer to eat off the ground. Providing a mix of seeds and ensuring there is space for ground feeding can encourage their visits to bird feeders.

There's more to learn about Oriental Turtle Dove

View full details

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

There's more to learn about Spotted Dove

View full details

Oriental Turtle Dove

Tap To compare

Spotted Dove

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Also known as: Rufous Turtle Dove

General appearance

The Oriental turtle dove is a large bird measuring 13-14 inches (33-35 cm), similar in size to a crow or robin. It exhibits a bold scaly pattern characterized by rich rufous, buff, or whitish edges on the dark feathers of the back, scapulars, and wings. It has a primarily smooth buffy gray head and underparts. A unique feature includes a patch of black and white lines on the side of its neck. The wings are broad and pointed, while the tail is rounded and square-tipped.

Male vs female

There is not much sexual dimorphism in the Oriental Turtle Dove, and the appearance of males and females is largely similar. Both genders display the same coloration and physical traits, making them difficult to distinguish purely based on appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Oriental turtle doves closely resemble the adults but may have a slightly duller color palette. Over time, as they mature, their colors may become more vibrant and they gain the distinctive scaly pattern on their upper body. They also develop the characteristic black and white neck patches.

Size

13.0 - 13.8 in/5.8 - 9.6 oz

There's more to learn about Oriental Turtle Dove

View full details

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

View full details

How to tell the Oriental Turtle Dove from the Spotted Dove

Visual differences

The Oriental Turtle Dove (13-14 in) is larger than the Spotted Dove (11-12 in). It features a bold scaly pattern with rich rufous, buff, or whitish edges on dark feathers, and a black and white neck patch. In contrast, the Spotted Dove has a light gray and pinkish plumage with a distinctive black patch covered in white spots at the throat base. Both species show minimal sexual dimorphism, but their neck patterns and size are key visual differentiators.

Key differences and behavior

Oriental Turtle Doves and Spotted Doves exhibit distinct behavioral differences. Oriental Turtle Doves, measuring 13-14 inches, display strong pair bonding with synchronized activities like nest building and incubation; males incubate by day and females by night. Their gentle, purring song complements their preference for temperate forests and adaptable presence in gardens. Their diet focuses on seeds, grains, and fruits, mostly foraged on the ground. Conversely, Spotted Doves, at 11-12 inches, engage in expressive mating dances, with males showcasing vibrant displays and coos. They thrive in diverse environments, from light woodlands to urban landscapes. Their diet includes seeds and occasional insects, and they often frequent bird feeders. Spotted Doves build nests on horizontal branches and share incubation duties. Notably, Spotted Doves are expanding their range, indicating their adaptability and resilience in various habitats.