Mourning collared dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mourning collared dove |
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Streptopelia
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| Streptopelia decipiens |
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The mourning collared dove (Streptopelia decipiens) is a type of pigeon that lives in Africa, mostly south of the Sahara Desert. Even though it's called a "mourning" dove, it's not closely related to the North American mourning dove. You'll usually find these birds living near water.
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What the Mourning Collared Dove Looks Like
The mourning collared dove is a fairly large and strong pigeon. It can grow up to 31 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. Its back, wings, and tail are a light brown color.
The head of this dove is grey. Its chest and belly are pink, fading to a light grey on its lower belly. It has a special black patch on the back of its neck, with white edges. The legs and the skin around its eyes are red.
When this dove flies, you can see its dark flight feathers. It also has a lot of white on its tail. This white tail helps tell it apart from the red-eyed dove, which is similar but bigger. The mourning collared dove makes a quick sound like krrrrrrrr, oo-OO, oo.
Male and female mourning collared doves look very similar. However, young doves are not as brightly colored as adults. Their body feathers also have a slightly different pattern.
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S. d. decipiens, found in Ethiopia
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S. d. shelleyi, found in Gambia
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A mourning collared dove on its nest near Lake Baringo, Kenya
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How the Mourning Collared Dove Behaves
The mourning collared dove flies quickly. It beats its wings regularly and sometimes gives a sharp flick. This type of flight is common for most pigeons.
What They Eat
Mourning collared doves eat mostly grass seeds, grains, and other plants. They spend a lot of time on the ground. They usually look for food there. Unlike some other doves, they often feed together in groups.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
These doves build their nests in trees. They often choose mangrove trees. Their nests are made of sticks. The female dove usually lays two white eggs.
Images for kids
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S. d. perspicillata, found near Lake Baringo, Kenya
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See also
In Spanish: Tórtola engañosa para niños
