Spotted Dove

Streptopelia chinensis

Spotted Doves originated in India and Southeast Asia. They were introduced to southern California around 1910. They have gradually expanded their range up the coast to Santa Barbara and into the central valley.

Small localized populations of Spotted Dove are found in downtown Bakersfield, especially around Beale Park and throughout Oildale. Their numbers fluctuate from year to year, most likely due to the fact that their nests are built near buildings and the young fall prey to roving cats and other predators. They are found singly or in pairs, seldom in flocks.

Adults: Length 28-33 cm. Larger and stockier than similar Mourning Doves

Color: Light gray head; head and breast cinnamon grey; black nape with white spots; dark cinnamon-gray back broadly streaked with black; buffy chest and belly; bill black; feet red. Pale brown wing coverts contrast with dark flight feathers. In flight, long blunt tail looks black with flashy white tips. Juveniles lack collar on hindneck. Breeding: monogamous nests all year, 1-2 white eggs Courting behavior of the male is a rhythmic bowing. To advertise his nesting site, a male performs a flight display of a steep climb accompanied by loud wing claps followed by a downward swoop in a circular dive with stiff wings and fanned tail.

Nesting: Nest is a flimsy stick platform of twigs, grasses and roots in a tree, tall bush, or on a building, often quite low. 11-15 cm in diameter and shallow, 2-3 cm deep.

Incubation: 14 days. Both parents brood young. Both tend to the young and provide a very rich substance called pigeon milk for the chick’s first six or seven days. The next week food for the chick is regurgitated seeds and grain.

Fledging: 14-16 days As soon as the young leave the nest, a new clutch is begun.

Voice: low coo-croo-coo; soft te-croo-croo; three note coo-coo-croo with emphasis on last note.

Lifespan: 1-4 years in the wild; reported as up to 20. Hunting season in California diminishes population and lifespan.

Diet: seeds and grains. Forages on the ground.

Habits: solitary to paired, non-migratory but known to expand range as territories fill.

Habitat: Suburban, parks, gardens, desert riparian, dense trees for nesting, areas with available grit.

Range: Occurs from Santa Barbara south to San Diego along the coast and inland in the central valley from Fresno south to Bakersfield. Uncommon but may be found in some California desert oases and riparian areas. Also introduced in Hawaii, northern Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand. Native to India through Southeast Asia.

Threats: preyed upon by man, accipiters, cats, and other carnivores.

Intentionally released in southern California, the Spotted Dove is associated with eucalyptus trees. Mostly a harmless addition to the southern California avifauna, it feeds on seeds and nests secretively. They are easily harmed by pesticides and herbicides. Doves are unique from other birds as they drink by sucking, so they don't have to tilt their heads back to swallow.