Mourning Collared-Dove
Streptopelia decipiens
A medium-sized mostly buff-brown”‘ringneck” dove with a rosy-mauve neck and breast, dusky gray head, and a uniquely yellow eye surrounded by red bare skin. In flight it has visible white in the outer tail. Frequents savanna and woodland, particularly alongside humans and in well-wooded areas. Produces a distinctive “Look AT me” song, as well as a variety of crooning throaty “craaaooow” calls. All similar ringneck-doves lack the yellow eye surrounded by red bare skin.
Identification
The mourning collared dove is a largish, stocky pigeon, up to 31 cm in length. Its back, wings and tail are pale brown. The head is grey and the underparts are pink, shading to pale grey on the belly. There is a black hind neck patch edged with white. The legs and a patch of bare skin around the eye are red.<p>When flying, it shows blackish flight feathers and extensive white in the tail, the latter being a distinction from the similar but larger red-eyed dove. The call is a fast krrrrrrrr, oo-OO, oo.<p>Sexes are similar, but immatures are duller than adults, and have scalloping on the body feathers.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Streptopelia decipiens
- Authority
- (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1870)
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
- Genus
- Streptopelia
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The mourning collared dove's flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.<p>Mourning collared doves eat grass seeds, grains and other vegetation. They are quite terrestrial, and usually forage on the ground. Unlike several other species in this genus, they are quite gregarious and often feed in groups.<p>It builds a stick nest in a tree, often a mangrove, and lays two white eggs.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Caribbean Dove
Leptotila jamaicensis
Retiring dove of forest floor, heard much more frequently than seen. Like other members of the genus, can be found walking quietly on shady roadsides and trails, especially early and late in the day. Not easily told by sight from White-tipped Dove, which occurs alongside Caribbean in Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Best feature is white face and pale bluish nape of Caribbean Dove. Also compare Gray-headed Dove. In flight, all species show white tail corners and rusty on underwings.
Swallow-tailed Kite
Elanoides forficatus
A graceful, uniquely shaped raptor with long, narrow wings and deeply forked tail. Black-and-white with shining blue-gray upperwing. Usually seen in flight as it soars and glides while twisting its tail. Wingbeats are deep, fluid flaps. Found over a variety of wooded habitats with a preference for wetter habitats around rivers and ponds. Feeds mainly on insects captured on the wing.
Nicaraguan Seed-Finch
Sporophila nuttingi
What this bird lacks in color, it makes up for with a ridiculously oversized bill. Male is all glossy black, female warm brown. Male’s bill is huge and pink, female’s is equally huge but dark gray. Larger overall size than other seed-finches and seedeaters. Could be mistaken for Thick-billed Seed-Finch but even larger bill should help with identification; also note lack of a white patch in the wing. Found in open habitats, especially fields with some scattered shrubs.
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