Speckled pigeon

Physical features

Both males and females are about 16 inches long.
These birds make a deep cooing sound.
The powerful wings of the speckled pigeon make them very strong flyers. As a result, they can travel great distances to find food.
Males and females look alike tho when in breeding condition the males have larger areas of red skin around their eyes.

Range – Sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal across to Tanzania and down to South Africa)
Habitat – open woodlands, rocky mountains, savanna, and into urban areas, generally avoiding forest

Wild – Predominantly ground feeders, they eat mostly seeds and grain shoots, but they may eat snails on occasion
Zoo – Grain, fruit, seed, and softbill diet (a manufactured diet specially formulated for fruit- and insect-eating birds)

These pigeons may breed all year round.
They generally breed and roost on cliff ledges, occasionally opting for holes in trees or in buildings. The nest itself is a flimsy platform of grass, twigs, and sticks.
To solicit a mate, males will circle very high while engaging in bouts of wing-clapping.
The male will vocalize while lowering his head, crouching, and twitching his wings to invite a female to a potential nest site.
A clutch consists of 2 eggs.
Incubation: 14-18 days
The male and female take turns incubating. The male usually sits on the nest in the morning and afternoon, while the female will sit in the evening and overnight.
New chicks receive crop milk. The parents will provide small bits of food after several days.
Fledging: 20-25 days

Major threats: hunting for sport
Speckled pigeon populations are thought to be stable and may even be increasing.

Speckled pigeons are usually found in pairs or small groups, but on occasion they may form flocks of nearly 700. They often appear in croplands in large flocks.
Some of these birds nest on islands up to 6 miles offshore. They must fly to the mainland daily to feed.
Speckled pigeons are becoming more common in urban areas, especially in South Africa, and are now often seen associating with common pigeons.
Speckled pigeons are related to the common pigeons we regularly see. They share a common genus but are different species.
The terms “pigeon” and “dove” are often used interchangeably as they are members of the same family, but the term “dove” generally refers to smaller species of pigeons.

Goodwin, D. (1983). Pigeons and Doves of the World (pp. 64-66). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Kenya Birds (2004). Speckled Pigeon. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from: http://www.kenyabirds.org.uk/pigeon-sp.htm
Lee Richardson Zoo (2004). Speckled Pigeon. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from: http://www.garden-city.org/zoo/animalinfo/speckled_pigeon.htm
Oakland Zoo (2003). Speckled Pidgeon. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from: http://www.oaklandzoo.org/atoz/azspeckpidgeon.html
SASOL Bird e-Guide (2003). Speckled (Rock) Pigeon. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from: http://www.birdlife.org.za/fieldguide/book/species_info.cfm?id=106

Updated November 2004