Lemon Dove
Columba larvata
Forests floor. Forehead and chin white; rest rufous; wings greenish.
Doves, Pigeons
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Fairly common resident. Cinnamon-coloured body with darker bronze upper parts; iridescent emerald sheen on upper back and wings. Red eye appears large on a distinctive whitish face. Coloration helps camouflage it with forest foliage, making it difficult to see. Very shy and secretive. Often only noticed when flushing noisily and unexpectedly from forest paths, flying off rapidly and dodging through the trees. Its presence is often revealed by its call, a soft, mournful ‘hoo-oo’ with rising tone on the second syllable. Pairs inhabit the interior of evergreen forest and plantations, feeding on the ground.
Quick Facts
Size
25-30 cm - M
Names
A: Kaneelduifie
Z: isAgqukwe
Ss: Leeba La Molalatala
G: Zimttaube
Bird Family
A well-known group of mostly seed-eating, terrestrial (except for the arboreal fruit-feeding pigeons) birds that build flimsy stick platform nests in trees. The distinction between pigeons and doves is ill-defined: larger species tend to be called pigeons, smaller ones doves. Immatures are dull versions of the adults. Many species become very common and tame near human habitation.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
Pairs inhabit the interior of evergreen forest and plantations, feeding on the ground.
