Saturday 6 February 2016

SATURDAY CRITTERS- South African Birds Pigeon

Once again, I photographed this Speckled Dove on my friends’ garage at their home in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2014. 


Speckled Dove
30–34 cm


A large, grey pigeon with a dull brick-red neck, back and inner wing coverts, bare red skin around eyes, red legs and dark grey bill with a whitish cere. Derives its name from its white-spotted wing coverts. Tail broadly tipped blackish with a paler grey subterminal band.


Smaller and paler than African Olive Pigeon, with red (not yellow) eye patches and legs, and black (not yellow) bill. Occasionally hybridises with Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon). Juv. browner, with grey-brown facial skin. 


Voice: Deep, booming ‘hooo-hooo-hooo'; softer ‘coocoo-coocoo'.


Common resident, favouring rocky areas, coastal cliffs and cities, ranging into croplands and grassland to feed. Males clap their wings when taking off on display flights.


I am linking this post with SATURDAY CRITTERS.


Thanks for your visit and also to all those who  leave me comments.

18 comments:

  1. Those eyes, and the speckled wings are truly spectacular.

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  2. Wonderful photos Margaret. I saw a pair of these at Paignton Zoo last summer. It is lovely to see photos of them in their natural habitat.

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  3. Hello Margaret, your Speckled Dove is beautiful. I like the eye patch and the speckles. Great photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!

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  4. That is a most colorful dove, unlike the ones I see in the U.S.

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  5. Lovely bird with beautiful colors of plumage...
    Best regards!

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  6. Hello Margaret!:) It's very attractive! Here in Portugal it's common practice to place ornamental doves or pigeons as permanent fixtures on the rooves of country homes. When I first saw this Speckled Pigeon, I mistook it for a well painted ornament.

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  7. They're a very pretty dive very unusual looking

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  8. Pretty pigeon! Excellent shots.

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  9. Wow! It is absolutely gorgeous!

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  10. That is certainly a distinctly patterned bird.

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  11. What an interesting and pretty bird..so different from the other types.

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  12. Another gorgeous bird with beautiful markings especially around the eye.

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  13. Fabulous! And I happen to have a special affection for doves/pigeons, love their little beaks and cute head shapes :) Nice pictures!

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  14. Such diversity you saw in Johannesburg!

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