Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838)

A medium-sized dove with a prominent black half-collar on the hindneck. It has pale grey upperparts and paler head, neck and underparts. The black primaries are visible in flight. It is found in open, dry country with groves and trees which it uses for shelter in the midday heat. It can frequently be seen in areas of habitation and in gardens, usually in pairs. It feeds on seed and grain on the ground. It has a deep kuk-koo-kook call, repeated several times, and an attractive courtship display. The bird flies sharply upwards with wings flapping noisily and the tail fanned out, and it then glides graceftilly downwards in a spiral or arc whilst uttering a prolonged koon- koon-koon.

A large grey and brown bird with a prominent black half-collar on the nape. Common in dry scrub and deciduous forests, and cultivated areas.

The call is a deep `kukkoo...kuk´.

Frequents in open, cultivated though essentially dry country, abounding in groves. Locally abundant in the neighbourhood of human habitations and freely enters gardens and bunglow, verandas, etc.

IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern