Streptopelia capicola
The Ring-necked Dove, scientifically known as *Streptopelia capicola*, is a charming and ubiquitous member of the Columbidae family, widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. This medium-sized dove typically measures 25-28 cm in length and weighs between 90-150 grams, featuring a slender build and a relatively long tail. Its plumage is predominantly a soft grey-brown, with darker flight feathers and a characteristic black half-collar, distinctly bordered with white, on the nape of its nec...
Found in a diverse array of habitats including savannas, woodlands, scrublands, farmlands, and urban parks, predominantly in low to moderate elevations across sub-Saharan Africa.
Primarily granivorous, feeding on a wide variety of seeds, grains, and agricultural crops, supplemented occasionally by small insects and other invertebrates. They forage almost exclusively on the ground.
Ring-necked Doves are primarily diurnal, spending their days foraging on the ground and roosting communally in trees or dense bushes at night. They employ a simple foraging strategy, walking steadily and gleaning seeds and grains from the ground. Males establish and defend breeding territories th...
The Ring-necked Dove boasts an expansive distribution across nearly the entirety of sub-Saharan Africa, making it one of the continent's most widespread avian species. Its range extends from the Sahel region in countries like Mauritania, Senegal, and Sudan, eastward through the Horn of Africa (Et...
Least Concern
- Despite their common name, the Ring-necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola) is native to Africa, distinct from the Eurasian Collared-Dove often called 'Ring-necked' in other parts of the world. - They are one of the few bird species capable of drinking water by suction, rather than scooping and til...