Zebra dove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zebra dove |
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| A zebra dove in Singapore | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Geopelia
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| Species: |
striata
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| Synonyms | |
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Columba striata Linnaeus, 1766 |
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The zebra dove (Geopelia striata) is a small bird from the dove family. It's also called the barred ground dove or barred dove. These birds are originally from Southeast Asia. They have long tails and are mostly brownish-grey with cool black and white stripes. People love their soft, cooing calls!
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About the Zebra Dove's Name
The zebra dove got its scientific name, Columba striata, from a Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus in 1766. He put it in the same group as other pigeons at that time. The word striata means "striped" in Latin, which fits because of the dove's stripes!
Later, in 1837, an English scientist named William John Swainson created a new group called Geopelia just for birds like the zebra dove. Today, the zebra dove is the only bird in its specific group, meaning it doesn't have different types or "subspecies."
The zebra dove is closely related to the peaceful dove and the barred dove. These two birds live in places like Australia and eastern Indonesia. For a long time, people thought they were just different kinds of zebra doves.
What Does a Zebra Dove Look Like?
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Zebra doves are small and thin, with a long, narrow tail. Their top feathers are brownish-grey with black and white stripes. Their belly and chest are a bit pink, with black stripes on the sides of their neck, chest, and tummy.
Their face is a blue-grey color, and they have bare blue skin around their eyes. The tips of their tail feathers are white. Young zebra doves are usually duller and paler than adult birds. They can also have some brown feathers. Zebra doves are about 20 to 23 centimeters (8-9 inches) long. Their wings can spread out to 24 to 26 centimeters (9-10 inches).
Zebra Dove Sounds
Their call is a series of soft, short cooing sounds. In countries like Thailand and Indonesia, these birds are popular pets because of their calls. People even have competitions to find the bird with the best voice!
In Indonesia, this bird is called perkutut. In the Philippines, they are known as batobatong katigbe or kurokutok. This last name sounds like the noise they make! They are also called tukmo in Filipino, a name also used for other wild doves. In Malaysia, this bird is called merbuk.
Where Do Zebra Doves Live?
Zebra doves are originally from places like Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore. They also live on Indonesian islands such as Sumatra and Java. They might also be native to Borneo, Bali, and the Philippines.
Many zebra doves are kept as pets. Because of this, many have escaped or been set free outside their natural home. Now, you can find them in central Thailand, Laos, Hawaii (where they were brought in 1922), Tahiti, New Caledonia, and other islands like the Seychelles and Mauritius.
These doves like to live in bushy areas, farmlands, and open spaces in low-lying areas. You can often see them in parks and gardens. Even though catching them for pets has made them rare in some parts of Indonesia, they are still common in most places. In some areas, like Hawaii and the Seychelles, zebra doves are among the most common birds!
Zebra Dove Behavior and Life Cycle
Reproduction
In their native homes, zebra doves usually have their babies from September to June. The male doves do a special dance to attract a female. They bow and coo while lifting and spreading their tails.
Once a female chooses a spot for a nest, she will sit there and make sounds to get males to help build it. The nest is very simple, just a flat platform made of leaves and grass. They build nests in bushes or trees, sometimes on the ground, and even on window ledges.
The female lays one or two white eggs. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm for about 13 to 18 days. The young birds leave the nest within two weeks and can fly well after three weeks.
Feeding Habits
Zebra doves mostly eat small seeds from grass and weeds. They also like to eat insects and other tiny creatures. They prefer to look for food on bare ground, in short grass, or on roads. They move quickly, almost like a small rodent. Unlike some other doves, they usually look for food alone or in pairs. Their striped colors help them blend in very well when they are on the ground.
