General

Zebra Dove: A slender long tailed dove. Upperparts are brown-gray with black barring. Underparts are pink to buff with fine black and white bars on sides of the neck, breast and belly. Outer tail feathers white edged; blue-gray face with blue skin around the bill and eye. Sexes are similar. Female has a pink center to breast. Juveniles are paler and have more brown mottled upperparts; brown underparts. Barred feathers on back and wing coverts have buff fringes; barring extends onto the crown and nape, as well as across entire breast.

Range and Habitat

Zebra Dove: Native range of the species extends from Southern Thailand, Tenasserim, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Lombok. It may also be native in the Philippines. Inhabits scrub, farmland and open country in lowland areas, and is commonly seen in parks and gardens.

Breeding and Nesting

Zebra Dove: One or two white eggs are laid in a flimsy platform nest constructed of twigs and fibers in a small tree, palm, or bush. Both parents incubate eggs for 13 to 18 days. Chicks fledge 14 to 17 days after hatching.

Foraging and Feeding

Zebra Dove: Their diet consists mainly of small seeds, with a small quantity of insects taken as well. They prefer to forage on bare ground, in short grass, or on roads, scurrying about with a rodent-like movement. Unlike other doves, they forage alone or in pairs. Their coloration camouflages them wonderfully against the ground. They also feed on crumbs and pieces of bread from outdoor tables.

Readily Eats

Bread Products, Seeds

Vocalization

Zebra Dove: Utters a series of "coos"

Similar Species

Zebra Dove: Spotted and Mourning Doves are larger and lack the barred plumage. Spotted Dove shows black band with white spotting on hindneck. Mourning Dove has black spots on wing coverts.