Diamond Dove

Description:

The diamond dove is one of the smallest of the Australian doves, weighing only 23 to 32 grams and has a length of 193 to 213 mm. It has a gray body and the adult bird has white diamond specks on its wings. The eyes of the adult bird are set off by a pronounced orange ring. The adult birds can often be sexed by the thickness of the eye ring and the color of their wing feathers. The males have a silver gray color and an orange or red eye ring of 2-3 mm in thickness after an age of one year. The females tend toward a brown gray color and have an eye ring of about 1 mm in thickness.

Male: The head, neck, and breast are light blue-grey. The bill is dark grey. The iris is orange with bright red orbital skin, which intensifies in breeding season. The abdomen is creamy-white. The upper and back, as well as the tail and central feathers are brown-grey. The next outer pair of tail feathers is tipped with whiteand the other whole distal half is white. The wing feathers and scapulars are brown-grey, spotted with small irregular white spots with black edges. The primaries, leading edge, and tip are brown-grey; the remainder is chestnut. The secondaries are blue-grey. On the under-side of the wing, the chestnut primaries have brown-grey tips. The legs and feet are pink.

Female: The female is similar to the male but has more brown suffusion on all grey parts. Also, the orbital skin is less bright.

Origin:
These birds originated in Australia

Size:
This particular Dove averages 7-8 inches (18-20cm) including a tail length of aproximatley 4 inches (10cm).

Variations:
There are 27 colors available.

General Care:
These Doves are a low maintence and free breeding speices.

Feeding:
These doves feed on seeds, primarily from grasses. They may also eat some ants. They feed on the ground in pairs or small groups, to winter flocks. They always need to be near drinking water