Ringed Dove

Smaller and much slimmer than the blue dove, approximately the size of a common dove. The upper body and folded wings are sand-colored, the head and chest are grayish-red with a pleasant pink hue. It differs from the common and large doves by the absence of dark mottling on the back and wing coverts; the upper side is uniform, the underwing is light; there is an elegant narrow black semicircle on the back of the neck with a white edging. The white color on the tail occupies about or more than a third of the area of the tail feathers, rather than just appearing as an edge. There is no distinct sexual dimorphism; females are colored slightly more dull. Young birds lack the pink hue, instead having an ochreous wash on the chest and back, no black semicircle, and less white on the tail. Weight is 135-250 g, length 31-33 cm, wing 17.3 - 18.8 cm, wingspan 47-55 cm.

A common, sometimes rare sedentary bird. It inhabits villages and cities, preferring areas with single-story buildings. It nests in separate pairs, often not far from each other. The nest is built from thin twigs in trees or in niches of buildings. The clutch consists of 2 eggs and is laid in March. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

It raises two or possibly three broods a year. In autumn, it concentrates around elevators, zoos, farms, and other food-rich places; sometimes small flocks of ringed doves fly to feed in nearby mowed fields. Winter is a critical period for the ringed dove, which cannot survive on natural food alone without human support.

It is found everywhere.

Red Book