African Collared Dove

The African Collared Dove, also known as the Barbary Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea), is a common migratory bird and uncommon visitor and breeding bird in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Around one million African Collared Doves migrate yearly to the Red Sea, where they breed in Tihama Plains, southwest of the Kingdom, and southern Tabuk, in the vicinity of plains located west of the region's mountains. It annually breeds in the Kingdom where the country has become a habitat for around five hundred thousand pairs. Some of these birds spend winter, between November and February, in the Kingdom.

Kadambal Island, nestled in al-Qahma area in Aseer Province, is the area with the most active presence of African Collared Doves. Several birds thereof breed on this island, covered by three km of pristine white sand beaches on three sides.

Hundreds of African Collared Doves breed on Umm al-Qamari Islands, south of al-Qunfudhah Governorate, in Makkah al-Mukarramah Province. These islands house many species of seabirds, shorebirds, and land birds, including African Collared Doves, in addition to several marine plants and invertebrates.

African Collared Doves live at altitudes below 1,500 m. They are found in forests, on acacia trees, usually within proximity of villages and agricultural areas, and in remote areas. They live in small flocks or groups consisting of no more than fifty birds.

They feed on small grains, grass, insects, and snails scattered on the ground.

The African Collared Dove is known for its sandy brown color in its upper body, pinkish-grey lower body, head, and belly, white-end tail, and wings with black tips. Its height reaches twenty-six cm, and its weight ranges between 130 and 166 g.

The African Collared Dove is a monogamous bird that lives in breeding pairs. Male and female doves are jointly responsible for incubating eggs and caring for their younglings. Its nest consists of twigs. It is lined with grasses or acacia branches. It usually is a thin nest built on a tree or shrub, at one to three m or thirty cm above the ground. Nests are found thirty cm apart in island colonies. They are usually reused for several incubations.

The African Collared Dove incubates two eggs over an incubation period of fourteen or fifteen days. Nesting requires fifteen days, while incubation is often dual or takes a triple incubation form.