Mourning Collared Dove

The mourning collared dove is a medium-sized, stocky pigeon, 28–30 cm in length. It has a pale grey head and pinkish-grey body, with a broad black half-collar finely edged in white on the back and sides of the neck. The wings are broad and pointed, pale brown with darker brown flight feathers. The legs, and a patch of bare skin around the eye, are red, and the iris is pale yellow to brownish. When flying, it shows dark flight feathers and extensive white in the tail, the latter being a distinction from the similar but slightly larger red-eyed dove; this also differs in having a red iris. The sexes are similar, but immatures are duller than adults, and have scalloping on the body feathers.

The flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.

Diet and feeding. Mourning collared doves eat grass seeds, grain and other vegetation. They are quite terrestrial, and usually forage on the ground. They are quite gregarious and often feed in groups.

Sounds. The call is a deep, nasal note that sounds along the lines of kuk-koooo-kuk. This call pattern is flat and considered a hoot.

Reproduction. These birds typically mate monogamously and the timing in which they mate depends on location. For example, breeding occurs from December to June in Sudan, but September to October in Chad, and in Senegal and Gambia, breeding occurs throughout the year. They tend to build a stick nest in low tree branch or bush, preferably closer to the ground, often a mangrove. A clutch of two white eggs that are laid. The eggs need to be incubated for 13–14 days, which is done by both male and female, with the young fledging after 15–18 days.