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Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Red-eyed Dove

Find out more about this feathered Highway resident below.

THIS week we take a look at one of the more common bird species of the Highway area, the Red-eyed Dove.

Also read: Chirping with Kloof Conservancy – Crested Barbet

Description

The Red-eyed Dove is the largest of the ‘ringed’ doves in our area. It is approximately 30cm in length and has a weight of approximately 250g. The head and underparts are pinkish and the face is pale grey. The back, wings and tail are brownish. A diagnostic feature to separate it from the similar looking but slightly smaller Cape Turtle Dove, is the bare patch of pink-red skin around the eye which gives this bird its name. The legs are also red. Males and females are identical in appearance.

Distribution

The Red-eyed Dove is found across South Africa with the exception of parts of the Northern Cape.

Habitat

This is a very adaptable species and is commonly found in a wide range of habitats with trees and water. It has adapted well to plantations of alien eucalyptus and pine which have helped it expand its range

Feeding

The Red-eyed Dove feeds almost exclusively on seeds and small fruits of a wide variety of plant species including sunflowers, sorghum and various indigenous grasses. It almost always feeds on the ground.

Breeding

This species is monogamous and pairs for life. The nest is quite a large platform and built by the female with sticks/twigs. The nest is usually built high up in a tall tree. In our area they nest year-round with the female laying one or two eggs which take about two weeks to hatch.

Predators and threats

The Red-eyed Dove is very adaptable and has been very successful in increasing its territory, so the population numbers are high. It is preyed upon by a wide variety of raptors and is an important species in the natural food-chain.

Local information

You will find the Red-eyed Dove across the Highway area from gardens, shopping centres, parks and road verges. It is a skittish bird and will fly off quickly if disturbed.

Interesting facts

Doves are considered to be meek and mild and this combined with their monogamy has resulted in doves being seen by humans as symbols of loyalty, peace and love.

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Sanelisiwe Tsinde

My name is Sanelisiwe Tsinde, and I'm a mother of two boys and very family-oriented. Being a community journalist for years, I can proudly say I love writing about positive community news articles and giving a voice to the voiceless. Seeing people getting assistance warms my heart. Every day is a different challenge and a new learning opportunity. I supply news for our trusted publication weekly, and a few years ago, Caxton ventured into online publication, so I contribute daily to the websites. I could say I am a multimedia journalist, and working in a community newspaper is beneficial as we do not focus on one thing but we do a bit of everything.

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