Spotted Dove

Overview
Spotted Dove: Medium dove with gray-brown upperparts and pink-brown underparts. Head has a pale gray cap, dark eye-line, and white-spotted black nape patch. The tail is long and gray with black edges and white corners. Bill is black, legs and feet are pink. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Range and Habitat
Spotted Dove: Native of Asia; introduced in coastal southern California. Preferred habitats include suburban areas and gardens.

The Spotted Dove, also called the Spotted Turtle Dove, is a small pigeon found in tropical regions of southern Asia. These birds are typically year-round residents in these warmer climates. They may be found in India, Sri Lanka, southern China and throughout southeast Asia. Its preferred habitat includes open forests and cultivated farmland. Some populations have been successfully introduced to Los Angeles, California in the United States, Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand. Nests are built out of sticks and placed in trees, and diets consist mainly of insects. The current conservation rating for the Spotted Dove is Least Concern.

INTERESTING FACTS
The Spotted Dove is also known as the Spotted Turtle Dove. In Australia, it was introduced in Melbourne in the 1860s and has since spread, often replacing native doves. A group of doves has many collective nouns, including a "bevy", "cote", "dole", "dule", and "flight" of doves.