Speckled Pigeon
Columba guinea
Cliffs. Streaked neck; wings and upper body rufous; wings with white spots.
Doves, Pigeons
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Very common resident. Told by deep red, white-spotted upper parts, grey head and underparts and red facial mask. Call is a loud and prolonged cooing ‘cook, cook, cook, cook…’ rising to a crescendo, then falling; also an enquiring ‘VUkutu-whooo?’ Flocks inhabit cliffs, mine shafts, road bridges, caves and buildings, often making lengthy daily flights to water or to feed in grain fields.
Quick Facts
Size
33 cm - M
Names
A: Kransduif
Z: iVukuthu
Ss: Lehoboi
G: Guineataube
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
Call is a loud and prolonged cooing ‘cook, cook, cook, cook…' rising to a crescendo, then falling; also an enquiring ‘VUkutu-whooo?' Flocks inhabit cliffs, mine shafts, road bridges, caves and buildings, often making lengthy daily flights to water or to feed in grain fields.
