How to identify the Red Collared Dove

To correctly identify the Red Collared Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica), check each of these features. Birds can be tricky: habit, habitat, and call often confirm a sighting that a single photo cannot.

Size at a glance

Length

20-23 cm

Wingspan

30-35 cm

Weight

70-100 g

Physical features to check

1. 1

   Plumage

   Overall feather coloration and pattern.

   Males have a reddish-pink head, neck, and underparts, fading to a paler pinkish-grey on the belly. The back and wings are a darker reddish-brown. A prominent black collar is present on the hindneck. The tail is dark with white outer tail feathers. Females are duller, with a greyish-brown head and underparts, and a less vibrant reddish-brown on the back and wings, though still retaining the black collar. Both sexes have dark primary flight feathers.

2. 2

   Beak shape

   Shape and color of the bill: a key field mark.

   Slender, dark grey to blackish beak with a slightly swollen cere.

3. 3

   Eye color

   Iris color and any distinctive eye markings.

   Dark brown with a narrow, purplish-red orbital ring.

4. 4

   Leg color

   Leg and foot color.

   Dull reddish-purple to dark red.

5. 5

   Distinguishing features

   Standout features that separate this species.

   The most distinctive feature is the broad black collar on the hindneck, contrasting with the reddish plumage of the male and the greyish-brown of the female. The relatively small size and short tail are also good indicators.

6. 6

   Juvenile appearance

   How young birds differ from adults.

   Juveniles resemble females but are even duller and browner, lacking the distinct black collar which develops later. Their plumage is generally more mottled and less uniform.

7. 7

   Seasonal changes

   Plumage variation between breeding and non-breeding seasons.

   No significant seasonal plumage changes. The intensity of male coloration might vary slightly with breeding condition, but no distinct breeding vs. non-breeding plumages.

8. 8

   Sexual dimorphism

   How males and females differ.

   Pronounced. Males are distinctly reddish-pink on the head, neck, and underparts, while females are much duller, predominantly greyish-brown with a less intense reddish wash on the back.

Key field marks

• Size and Shape. Look for a small, slender dove with a relatively short tail, smaller than most other common doves in its range.
• Black Collar. The most definitive feature is the broad, solid black collar on the hindneck, present in both sexes and juveniles (though less defined in the latter).
• Male Plumage. Males are unmistakable with their reddish-pink head, neck, and underparts, contrasting with the black collar and reddish-brown back.
• Female Plumage. Females are duller, greyish-brown overall, but still retain the black collar and a subtle reddish wash on the back and wings.
• Vocalization. Listen for its soft, disyllabic 'coo-coo' or 'coo-croo' call, which is distinct from other dove species.

Explore the Red Collared Dove