Red Collared-Dove
Streptopelia tranquebarica
Medium-sized dove of open spaces with trees and bushes. Male is red with a bluish-gray head and female is brown overall. Both sexes have a dark collar. Female may be confused with other collared-doves, but is smaller with a shorter tail. Often forages in pairs, but may congregate in large flocks, particularly in agricultural fields where seeds have been spilled. Song is a hoarse and muffled-sounding series of three or four hoots.
Identification
The red collared dove is a relatively small species, with a length of 20.5–23 cm (8.1–9.1 in) and a weight of around 104 g (3.7 oz).The male has a bluish head and light red-brown body with a black ring round its neck, while the female is similar but pinkish all over.
Taxonomy
The red collared dove was formally described by the French naturalist Johann Hermann in 1804 and given the binomial name Columba tranquebarica. The specific epithet is from the town Tranquebar, now Tharangambadi, on the Coromandel Coast in southern India. The red turtle dove is now placed in the genus Streptopelia that was introduced in 1855 by the French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte. The genus name is from the Ancient Greek streptos meaning "collar" and peleia meaning "dove".<p>Two subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Streptopelia tranquebarica
- Authority
- (Hermann, 1804)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Streptopelia
Range and habitat
This dove is essentially a plains species, extending to Taiwan and the Philippines but uncommon on the Indonesian archipelago (avoiding rocky foothills), and an Oriental species. There is, however, a summer migration into the broader cultivated valleys of Afghania where it breeds. It is the most common dove throughout Punjab. It is a summer migrant visitor to India, where it is more or less resident. It prefers better-wooded tracts such as canal or roadside tree plantations and avoids extensive desert regions. When they first arrive they are often in small flocks, but they soon split up and start pair formation and breeding.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Galapagos Flycatcher
Myiarchus magnirostris
Drab but entertaining flycatcher endemic to Galápagos. Plumage is largely brownish-gray with a yellow belly, pale gray throat, and white wingbars; head has a rusty tinge in fresh plumage. Also note stout bill. The only member of its genus found in Galápagos, greatly simplifying ID. Completely fearless of people. Energetically chases insects from the ground or from elevated perches, such as bushes, cacti, spotting scopes, and surprised tourists.
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Fairly small, long-tailed hawk with broad, rounded wings (not pointed like kestrels). Soars occasionally, but more often seen in quick hunting flight chasing small birds, or perched quietly in shade. Note golden-yellow eyes, barred underparts (barring grayish on female, rusty on male). Juvenile brownish above through first year. Smaller and much less bulky than Northern Goshawk, and with horizontally barred instead of vertically striped underparts. Occurs in woodland, forest, farmland, and urban areas with hedges and wooded patches; sometimes hunts in gardens.
Banggai Crow
Corvus unicolor
An entirely black, short-tailed, pale-eyed crow confined to the island of Peleng in the Banggai Islands. Occurs in groups within canopy of montane forest. Tail just barely extends beyond wingtips when perched. Shorter-tailed and shorter-billed than Slender-billed Crow, and shows a pale eye, unlike that species. Voice also differs. Song is a “whee-kew-kew-kew,” with a rasping note starting the series and higher-pitched, ascending whistles following.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.