Doves belong to the family Columbidae, which majorly consists of doves and pigeons. These small, usually grayish-brown, stocky birds are known for their small necks and legs, slim bills, and long tails. They are granivores, and mainly feed on seeds; thus, you are likely to see a lot of them in your backyards.
With over 300 species of doves worldwide, they are one of the most common birds found in the US. From the Mourning Dove to the White-winged Dove, you can easily identify various dove species, if you know the key features.
This dove identification chart will be your ultimate guide when it comes to identifying exotic types of doves. Let’s get straight into it!
Table of Contents
Types of dove
As an avid birdwatcher, dove species identification, based on their specific characteristics, is a fascinating subject. Depending on the size, shape, plumage, and markings; there are more than 300 species of doves around the world. This includes the rock pigeon, in dove, common ground dove, and a lot more.
But, that’s not all!! You can find native dove species in the US, as well as those migrating from Mexico, Eurasia, and the Caribbean. This means you can find doves in every region, be it an urban area or countryside. For example, you can frequently find rock pigeons in urban areas and stock doves in woodlands.
Although most doves are identical, there are some slight differences that can help you distinguish between their types. For instance, on close examination, you can clearly see a black half-collar on the nape of Eurasian Collared Dove, and characteristic facial markings on the Laughing Dove.
Moreover, different dove species have different calls that can help in determining the type of dove. Mourning doves produce a gentle “cooAHoo ” followed by several coos, while Eurasian Collared doves produce a three-parted coo.
The most distinct call among all the dove species is that of White-Winged doves since they produce a soft “hoohoo hoohoo” with the final note descending.
| Dove Species | Gender | Size | Color | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Collared Dove | Both | 28 – 32 cm | Pale grayish-brown body with black collar | Black half-collar on nape |
| Mourning Dove | Both | 23 – 35 cm | Light brown body with darker spots on wings | Long, pointed tail |
| Rock Pigeon (common pigeon) | Both | 29 – 37 cm | Various colors including gray, black, white | Two dark wing bars |
| White-winged Dove | Both | 28 – 31 cm | Gray-brown body with white wing patches | White wing patches |
| Inca Dove | Both | 18 – 22 cm | Pinkish-gray body with scaled appearance | Reddish-brown primary feathers |
| Common Ground Dove | Both | 16 – 18 cm | Brownish-gray body with scaled appearance | White spots on wing coverts and outer tail feathers |
| White-tipped Dove | Both | 24 – 28 cm | Brownish-gray body with white spot on wings | White tips on outer tail feathers |
| Zenaida Dove | Both | 25 – 30 cm | Grayish-brown body with pinkish hue | Pinkish hue on breast and face |
| Laughing Dove | Both | 22 – 26 cm | Pinkish-brown body with black and white facial markings | Black and white facial markings |
| Spotted Dove | Both | 27 – 30 cm | Brownish-gray body with white spots on wings and back | White spots on wings and back |
| Ring-necked Dove | Both | 28 – 35 cm | Grayish-brown body with black ring around neck | Black ring around neck |
| Diamond Dove | Both | 19 – 21 cm | Gray body with white spots | White spots on wings and back |
| Cape Turtle Dove | Both | 29 – 33 cm | Brownish-gray body with reddish-brown primary feathers | Reddish-brown primary feathers |
| Barbary Dove | Both | 25 – 30 cm | Pale grayish-brown body with dark collar on neck | Dark collar on neck |
| Island Collared Dove | Both | 26 – 30 cm | Pale grayish-brown body with black half-collar on nape | Black half-collar on nape |
| Red-eyed Dove | Both | 28 – 33 cm | Brownish-gray body with red eye ring | Red eye ring |
| White-crowned Pigeon | Both | 33 – 38 cm | Blue-gray body with white crown | White crown on head |
| Ruddy Ground Dove | Both | 15 – 18 cm | Brownish-gray body with reddish-brown primary feathers | Reddish-brown primary feathers |
| Black-billed Wood Dove | Both | 26 – 29 cm | Brownish-gray body with black bill and eye patch | Black bill and eye patch |
| White-throated Ground Dove | Both | 16 – 20 cm | Brownish-gray body with white throat and belly | White throat and belly |
How to identify a dove?
Doves and pigeons are quite similar, hence, it may be a struggle identifying them. But don’t worry! We have extracted some key identifying features that will allow you to identify dove species at a glance. Besides adequate knowledge, you also need to have a keen eye for detail if you want to identify doves.
The most prominent distinguishing feature when it comes to doves is the characteristic grayish brown color with dark spots on wings. They also feature a short, round tail; and a stocky body with thin bill. With a soft, melodious call; doves are one of the most common birds out there.
Most dove species share similar physical characteristics. This includes a comparatively small head with long wings and tail feathers. Specifically for mourning dove identification, you need to check for a pointed tail, grayish-brown colour, and black spots on the wings.
Their sorrowful calls often resemble the hoots of the owls, setting them apart from other species. Male mourning doves are more colorful than the females, which helps distinguish the genders.
Similarly, common ground doves can be identified easily by observing their plumage. Like most dove species, they have a grayish-brown color with a scaly appearance and dark spots on the wing coverts. They feature a pinkish-red bill with a dark tip, and characteristic moaning coos.
You can differentiate between a male and female common ground dove on the basis of their plumage. The male birds exhibit a pinkish hue on the head, neck, and chest with a bluish crown, while the females have an overall dull plumage.
| Dove Species | Regions Found | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|
| Common Emerald Dove | Southeast Asia, Australia | Bright emerald green back and wings, white throat, black and white striped nape |
| Purple-winged Ground Dove | South America | Purple wings, white belly, maroon chest |
| Maroon-chested Ground Dove | South America | Maroon chest and belly, gray head and back, brown wings and tail |
| Blue Ground Dove | South America | Blue-gray head and neck, brown back and wings, white belly |
| Picui Ground Dove | South America | Gray-brown head and body, black spots on wings, white outer tail feathers |
| Sulawesi Ground Dove | Sulawesi (Indonesia) | Brown head and body, white belly and undertail coverts, red legs |
| Luzon Bleeding Heart | Luzon (Philippines) | Brown back and wings, white underparts, distinctive red patch on breast resembling a heart |
| Zebra Dove | Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands | Brown body with black and white striped neck and black and white barring on wings |
| Crested Quail Dove | Southeast Asia, Pacific Islands | Chestnut-colored body, black face mask and crest, white markings on wings |
| Grenada Dove | Grenada (Caribbean) | Slate gray body, pinkish-orange bill, distinctive white crescent on neck |
Also Read: Goose Identification Chart
5 Characteristics of a dove
Besides the soft coos of the dove, they are also known for their short, plump bodies, distinct plumage, and graceful flying patterns. But that’s not all! Doves can fly almost 25 miles a day in search of food and shelter. They have exceptionally strong flying muscles that make up approximately 44% of their body weight.
Additionally, several dove species exhibit peculiar behaviors to adapt to their surroundings. For example, Inca doves, found in warm climates huddle up when there is a drop in temperature below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of them even sit on top of each other forming a pyramid, an action called “pyramid roosting.”
They have short gestation periods, producing almost 9 broods in a year. The females lay eggs 8-12 days after mating, which then hatch after 18 days. If you are interested in learning more about these enchanting species, here are 5 essential characteristics that can help identify doves. You can also use these for female dove identification.
- Most doves have small heads, compared to their body size. They measure approximately 12-inches from tip of beak to end of tail, with female doves being slightly smaller than males.
- Females lay 1 or 2 eggs at a time in flat, slightly hollow nests. Both the males and females incubate the eggs and produce “Crop milk” to feed their young. It contains a higher percentage of lipids, proteins, and growth promoting factors essential for early development of the young ones.
- In case of threat, they fluff up their feathers and start flapping their wings aggressively. The mourning doves have a more rapid wing beat and erratic flight path compared to white-winged doves.
- They are mainly granivores, however, some species also feed on fruits and vegetables.
- They have small legs, slender bills, and long tails. Most doves are grayish-brown in color with black spots on wings and long, pointed tail. Their call is a soft, inflected coAHoo followed by several coos.
Also read: Owl Identification Chart
Conclusion
Whether you are a novice or an experienced bird watcher, a dove identification chart that provides detailed information on the behavior, physical features, and habitat serves as a helpful tool. Given their prevalence in the surrounding, and popularity in literature as a symbol of peace; doves are a fascinating object of study.
This dove identification chart merges all the specific features of various dove species in one place so you don’t have to refer to different resources. All you need to do is carefully evaluate the physical attributes of the dove in front of you and match the characteristics with the chart.