Dove, Barred

Physical Features

The Barred Dove is small slender bird with a long, narrow tail. The male is slightly larger than the female and they can weigh up to 85 grams. Their body color is primarily grey brown-black edged feathers with a white abdomen. They have a yellow skin around their eyes and white tips on their tail feathers. Their feet are a dull pink or purple and they have a brownish grey bill. Their coloring is perfectly camouflaged against the ground. Males and females have an identical appearance although males are slightly larger. Adult males have a body length between 23.2-25.8cm compared to the female's average length between 21-21.3cm. The average weight of adult Barred Doves is between 75-85g. The Barred Dove is slightly larger than the Zebra Dove being about two centimeters longer with the Zebra Dove having distinct bluish orbital skin instead of the yellow skin of the Barred Dove.

Habitat

Barred Doves are usually found in dry, open habitat with some scrub vegetation. They also inhabit cultivated land and woodland edges in lowland areas. They are native to the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia and can also be found on Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, Timor, the Tanimbar Islands, the Kei Islands and other smaller islands. They were introduced to Hawaii in 1922.

Diet

Barred Doves feed on grass seeds, weeds, insects and other invertebrates. They mainly eat on items with little water content so they need a water resource in order to survive. They are commonly seen around outdoor restaurants and hotels feeding on crumbs and scraps that are left on the ground.

Meat

Barred Dove meat has a very dense, lean, dark, and rich meat.

Behavior

Breeding season is from September through June. The male Barred Doves raise and spread their tail feather in a display of courtship. Nests are made of leaves and grass blades constructed in a bush or tree or sometimes on the ground. The female lays 1 to 2 glossy white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 13-18 days. The chicks leave the nest two weeks after hatching. Barred Doves have a series of soft, short clipped, cooing calls.

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