Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Other Names

  Cape Turtle Dove, Cape Ring-dove, Dark-eyed Ring-dove, Damara Dove   Tourterelle du Cap   Gurrtaube   Tórtola de El Cabo   Ringnackad duva   Kaapse Tortel   Tortora del Capo

World: Africa: Widespread across the continent S of the Congo basin, N of this confined to the E ranging through East Africa N to Ethiopia, Somalia and southern Sudan.

Kenya: Throughout the country primarily below 2000m although locally it may occur higher.

This is a widespread and frequently abundant bird of bush, savannah, cultivation, forest edge and woodland. It is found in small groups but may form quite large flocks around food sources or drinking areas. It is quite a noisy bird both when taking flight (it claps its wings loudly and since it moves in groups this can result in a significant amount of noise). It also calls throughout the day and often into the night. The individual pictured above is of the eastern race S. c. somalica which is paler than the western race S. c. tropica. The Ring-necked Dove is very similar to the African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens) but it lacks the red orbital ring.