1-6-2019 LINYANTI CAMP, BOTSWANA - PALE EMERALD SPOTTED WOOD DOVE (Turtur chalcospilos ssp. zambesiensis)

The emerald-spotted wood dove or emerald-spotted dove (Turtur chalcospilos) is a bird of the family Columbidae, resident across eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of open drier deciduous woodland and second growth. It is absent from evergreen rainforests and semidesert areas.

At Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, South Africa, showing the bluish-emerald wing spots

Calling in woodland during autumn

The emerald-spotted wood dove is a small plump pigeon, typically 20 cm in length. Its back, hindneck, wings, and tail are pale grey-brown, and the folded wings have green metallic patches. There are blackish bands on the lower back and tail. The forehead, crown, and nape are bluish-grey, fading to pinkish-grey on the throat. The underparts are mauve-pink, becoming whiter on the belly.

The bill of this dove is blackish with a red base. The sexes are similar, but the female may be slightly duller than the male. The immature has duller green spots and buff fringes to the feathers. When flying, the black-billed wood dove is told from this species by its bright chestnut underwings.

The call is in three parts: two soft long coos, followed by a series of slow descending coos lasting 10 seconds, and concluding with 4 seconds of rapid coos, which decrease in volume.

This species shows some geographical variation in plumage, but differences are clinal, and emerald-spotted wood dove is now considered to be monotypic.

The emerald-spotted wood dove builds a flimsy stick nest in a tree or shrub, and lays two cream-coloured eggs. Both sexes incubate for 13–17 days to hatching, and feed the squabs for 13–17 days to fledging. Many young birds are taken by mongooses and shrikes.

The emerald-spotted wood dove is not gregarious, but flocks may form at waterholes. This species usually forages on the ground for grass and other small seeds.

7-4-2018 THORNYBUSH LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - PALE EMERALD SPOTTED WOOD DOVE (Turtur chalcospilos ssp. zambesiensis)

The Pale Emerald-spotted wood dove, scientifically known as Turtur chalcospilos, is a small and plump pigeon, measuring approximately 20 cm in length. Its plumage is a pale grey-brown across the back, hindneck, wings, and tail, with the wings adorned by distinctive green metallic patches. The lower back and tail feature blackish bands. The head is a bluish-grey, transitioning to a pinkish-grey on the throat, while the underparts are a soft mauve-pink, fading to a paler hue on the belly.

To identify this species, look for the bluish-emerald wing spots and the blackish bill with a red base. Both sexes appear similar, though females may be slightly less vibrant. Juveniles can be recognized by their duller green spots and buff fringes on their feathers. When in flight, the Emerald-spotted wood dove can be distinguished from the similar Black-billed wood dove by its lack of bright chestnut underwings.

The Emerald-spotted wood dove favors open drier deciduous woodland and areas of second growth. It avoids evergreen rainforests and semi-desert regions.

This bird is a resident across eastern and southern Africa, where it can be found in suitable habitats.