Ring-necked Dove

The Ring-necked Dove, also known as the Cape Turtle Dove or Half-collared Dove, graces the skies of East and southern Africa with its presence. This bird, mostly sedentary in nature, boasts a semi-collar of black feathers on its lower nape, a characteristic it shares with its Streptopelia kin. The upper parts of its body are cloaked in the darkest shades of grey and brown, while the lower belly and vent gleam white. Notably, the tail feathers are edged with white, a detail most visible during their display flight.

Identification Tips

Adult Ring-necked Doves exhibit a variety of grey and brown tones with a hint of lavender on the nape, and a paler underside with a touch of pinkish lavender. The white lower belly and crissum starkly contrast with the slate grey tail feathers tipped with white. Males and females are similar in appearance, though males are marginally larger, measuring between 25–26.5 cm in length and weighing 92–188 g. Their eyes are a deep, almost black hue, complemented by a black bill and dark purple feet. Juveniles are duller and lack the semi-collar, with buff edges on their upper parts and greyish-white edges below.

Habitat

The Ring-necked Dove thrives in a variety of open habitats, from semi-desert scrub and savannahs to woodlands and farmlands. It avoids closed forests and the arid dune fields and gravel plains of the Namib. In southern Africa, they are frequently spotted in fynbos regions and various grassland types, often near trees planted in groves around farmsteads.

Distribution

This species is widespread and abundant across East and southern Africa. It is commonly found at elevations below 2,000 meters, adapting to a range of environments from semi-desert to moist grasslands.

Behaviour

Ring-necked Doves are typically solitary or found in pairs, but they can form large flocks at food and water sources, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They are diurnal, foraging on the ground with a distinctive head bobbing motion and roosting in treetops at night.

Song & Calls

The Ring-necked Dove's call is a penetrating and rhythmic "kuk-COORRRR-uk," which may be repeated numerous times. They also emit a raspy "kooorr" or "knarrrrrr" when landing or interacting with other doves. Their vocalizations can be heard throughout the day and into moonlit nights.

Breeding

These monogamous birds engage in territorial nesting, with males performing steep gradient flapping followed by a spiraling descent during display. Both sexes share in the construction of the flimsy twig nest and incubation of the two to four pure white eggs. Chicks are fed regurgitated food by both parents and fledge after about 16 days. Multiple broods may be raised in a single season.

Similar Species

The Ring-necked Dove can be confused with several other Streptopelia species that share the semi-collar and subdued plumage. It is distinguished from the African Collared Dove by its call and tail feather patterns. Other similar species include the Eurasian Collared Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Red Collared Dove, African Mourning Dove, and the Barbary Dove.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists mainly of seeds, including those of grasses, cereals, lupins, milkweeds, and alien acacias and pines. They also consume broken fruits, berries, and occasionally insects such as earthworms, termites, and weevils.

Conservation Status

The Ring-necked Dove is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.