From Opus

Geopelia placida

Photo by RMD
Nhulunbuy NT Australia

[edit] Identification

19 to 21 centimetres (7.6 to 8.4 inches). Pink-grey breast, grey-brown chequered wings, striations of black around neck and nape, grey-white eye with blue-grey ring. Juveniles paler, less striated and duller eye ring. Calls of the Peaceful Dove are high-pitched doodle-doo, co-co-coo and croorrr!.

[edit] Distribution

Australia and New Guinea.

[edit] Taxonomy

It is closely related to the Zebra Dove of south-east Asia and the Barred Dove of eastern Indonesia. Until recently, the three were classed as a single species, Geopelia striata, known as Peaceful Dove or Zebra Dove.

[edit] Habitat

Scrublands, woodlands, watercourses, railyards and on the edge of rainforests.

[edit] Behaviour

They occur in pairs, groups and flocks. They are groundfeeders.

Breeding occurs from October to January in southern Australia and from March to June in northern Australia. Nests are built on horizontal branches of trees. 2 white eggs are laid.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID