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The Ring-necked Dove, also known as the Cape Turtle Dove or Half-collared Dove, graces the skies of East and southern Africa with its presence. This bird, mostly sedentary in nature, boasts a semi-collar of black feathers on its lower nape, a characteristic it shares with its Streptopelia kin. The upper parts of its body are cloaked in the darkest shades of grey and brown, while the lower belly and vent gleam white. Notably, the tail feathers are edged with white, a detail most visible during their display flight.
Adult Ring-necked Doves exhibit a variety of grey and brown tones with a hint of lavender on the nape, and a paler underside with a touch of pinkish lavender. The white lower belly and crissum starkly contrast with the slate grey tail feathers tipped with white. Males and females are similar in appearance, though males are marginally larger, measuring between 25–26.5 cm in length and weighing 92–188 g. Their eyes are a deep, almost black hue, complemented by a black bill and dark purple feet. Juveniles are duller and lack the semi-collar, with buff edges on their upper parts and greyish-white edges below.
The Ring-necked Dove thrives in a variety of open habitats, from semi-desert scrub and savannahs to woodlands and farmlands. It avoids closed forests and the arid dune fields and gravel plains of the Namib. In southern Africa, they are frequently spotted in fynbos regions and various grassland types, often near trees planted in groves around farmsteads.
