Ring-necked Dove

The Ring-necked Dove is very similar to our common Turtle Dove that we usually see in many countries. However, it is slightly smaller, almost 10 cm in length. Both genders look very similar but the male is slightly larger. The Ring-necked Dove is generally light grey-brown on the top and pale grey on the underside. Some parts are also paler, almost grey-pink. Its head is light grey with a hint of pale pink. Its nape is slightly darker than its forehead. The cheeks and throat are almost white. A black collar with a blue-white lining covers the back and sides of the neck, a characteristic visible in many species of the Streptopelia. A black line connects the lores with the eyes. The chest is pale grey-pink and this colour lightens as it goes down to the belly and flanks. The mantle, scapulars and tertials are brownish sand. The lesser, median and greater coverts are grey-blue. The primaries are brown with light beige edges. All of these three colours are easily seen when the bird is in flight. The back, rump and upper-tail coverts are grey-blue. The undertail coverts are white. The central rectrices are grey and contrast with two white outer feathers that can be seen at the take-off of the bird and are of great help to identify it when in groups of other species. Finally, the beak and cere are dark grey, the iris black and the legs red. Many colour variations exists depending on the lighting and distribution areas. The juvenile is more dull while the adult is rosy-violet and does not have a black collar.