- African Mourning Dove
Taxobox
name = African Mourning Dove
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Columbiformes
familia = Columbidae
genus = "Streptopelia "
species = "S. decipiens"
binomial = "Streptopelia decipiens"
binomial_authority = (Hartlaub & Finsch, 1870)The African Mourning Dove ("Streptopelia decipiens") is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in
Africa south of theSahara . Despite its name, it is not a close relative of theNorth America nMourning Dove , "Zenaida macroura".This species is common or abundant near water. It builds a stick nest in a tree, often a
mangrove , 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.The African Mourning Dove is a largish, stocky pigeon, up to 31cm 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.
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".Sexes are similar, but immatures are duller than adults, and have scalloping on the body
feather s.African Mourning 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. They also mingle peacefully with other doves.
References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "Birds of The Gambia" by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1
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