| African Collared Dove | ||||||||||||||
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| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Streptopelia roseogrisea '' |
The African Collared Dove is a small dove found in Africa in the arid region south of the Sahara. Its range extends in a band right across the continent, and into southern Arabia. Although it lives in arid lands, it is found around water sources.
The bird is around 26 cm in length. Its upper body, from shoulders to tail, is a pale grayish brown, though the wing edge has a bluish tinge. Flight feathers are darker, and nearly black. Head, neck and breast are pinkish shading to white on the chin & belly. There is little sexual dimorphism.
The African Collared Dove is one of two species (the other being the Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto that have been thought to be the wild ancestors of the domestic Ring Dove. It is able to hybridise with the Ring Dove, and it is thought that the increase in the range of colours of Ring Doves available that occurred in the later twentieth century was the result of the importation of African Collared Doves into the United States for interbreeding.
It is reported to have been introduced into New Zealand (where it is known as the Barbary Dove), but it is more likely that the birds there are descended from domestic Ring Doves.
