African Collared Dove
Encyclopedia
The African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea) is a small dove
found in Africa
in the arid region south of the Sahara
. Its range extends in a band right across the continent, and into southern Arabia
. Although it lives in arid lands, it is found around water sources.
This bird is typically around 26 cm in length. Its upper body, from shoulders to tail, is a pale grayish brown, though the wing edge has a bluish tinge. Flight feather
s are darker, and nearly black. Head, neck and breast are pinkish shading to white on the chin and belly. There is little sexual dimorphism
.
The African Collared Dove is the species thought to be the wild ancestor of the domestic Barbary Dove
, though some suggest the Eurasian Collared Dove
(Streptopelia decaocto) may also have been involved. The African Collared Dove is able to hybridise with the Barbary Dove, and it is thought that the increase in the range of colours of Barbary Doves available that occurred in the later twentieth century was the result of the importation of African Collared Doves into the United States
for interbreeding.
It is reported to have been introduced into New Zealand
, but it is more likely that the birds there are descended from domestic Barbary Doves.
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
found in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in the arid region south of the Sahara
Sahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
. Its range extends in a band right across the continent, and into southern Arabia
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. Although it lives in arid lands, it is found around water sources.
This bird is typically around 26 cm in length. Its upper body, from shoulders to tail, is a pale grayish brown, though the wing edge has a bluish tinge. Flight feather
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
s are darker, and nearly black. Head, neck and breast are pinkish shading to white on the chin and belly. There is little sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
.
The African Collared Dove is the species thought to be the wild ancestor of the domestic Barbary Dove
Barbary Dove
The Ringneck Dove, Ring Dove, or Barbary Dove, Streptopelia risoria, is a domestic member of the dove family .Although the Ringneck Dove is normally assigned its own systematic name, as Streptopelia risoria, considerable doubt exists as to its appropriate classification...
, though some suggest the Eurasian Collared Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
The Eurasian Collared Dove most often simply called the Collared Dove, also sometimes hyphenated as Eurasian Collared-dove is a species of dove native to Asia and Europe, and also recently introduced in North America....
(Streptopelia decaocto) may also have been involved. The African Collared Dove is able to hybridise with the Barbary Dove, and it is thought that the increase in the range of colours of Barbary Doves available that occurred in the later twentieth century was the result of the importation of African Collared Doves into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for interbreeding.
It is reported to have been introduced into New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, but it is more likely that the birds there are descended from domestic Barbary Doves.