Red-Eyed Dove
Streptopelia semitorquata
Habitat
Ground
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
176 g
About This Species
Look for it feeding on the ground in woodland edges, riverine forest and garden settings across sub-Saharan Africa, often walking in pairs beneath trees in search of fallen seeds. A rhythmic, six-note cooing — often rendered as 'I am a red-eyed dove' — carries well and is typically given at dawn and dusk from a concealed perch in dense foliage. These crepuscular calling bouts are the most reliable way to locate it, even where the bird itself stays hidden.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A distance of around 10 metres is enough to watch ground-feeding birds without disturbing them.
- Protection for common doves varies considerably across this wide African range, with some countries affording general wildlife protection and others permitting more casual take, so check local regulations rather than assuming a single standard.
- Avoid approaching dense foliage where a nest may be sited, since these doves build flimsy platforms that are easily disturbed.
LCAvesColumbiformesColumbidae
Seasonal Activity
551,792 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Family
- Columbidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 176 g
Photo
(c) Paul Cools, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Paul Cools
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.