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Dove - Columbidae |
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The family group of Columbidae covers birds like Pigeon & Doves, this group has 310 birds world wide of which 30 of them are residents in South east Asia. Then from that figure of the birds resident in South East Asia, I have weed out only the Doves which were reported as sighted in Malaysia before and it is summarized as the list below |
| Rock Dove | Columba livia |
| Island Collared Dove | Streptopelia bitorquata |
| Red Turtle Dove | Streptopelia tranquebarica |
| Spotted-necked Dove | Streptopelia chinensis |
| Barred Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia unchall |
| Ruddy Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia emiliana |
| Little Cuckoo-Dove | Macropygia ruficeps |
| Emerald Dove | Chalcophaps indica |
| Zebra Dove | Geopelia striata |
| Jambu Fruit Dove | Ptilinopus jambu |
| Black-naped Fruit Dove | Ptilinopus melanospilus |
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The criteria for these group of birds are plump and well rounded bodies, small heads and short beak plus short legs. They should be gregarious birds and usually frugivorous. But from the later write-up below, I mentioned quite a few a ground scavengers, picking up dropped seeds and ripened fruits |
1. Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis
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This is a fairly large bird at 30 cm long. The bird prefers open areas, such as grasslands and public parks. It is also a common resident in urban backyards. The bird originates from the Indian Sub-continent and a narrow belt east to south China. By now it is also a very common resident and familiar sights. This first and second Doves on this page need no further introduction as everyone is so familiar with them. Their appearance on this page is needed to fill up and complete the page. |
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2. Zebra Dove Geopelia striata
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The peaceful Dove or sometimes named as Zebra Dove from the barring seen at its collar is medium size bird at 21 cm. This is also an open country bird but very common in public parks and our backyards. This bird originates from the Island of Sumatra and was introduced in many other regions. Now it is resident in Malaysia. As mentioned I will not waste space to elaborate on these 2 Doves. All I wanted to add is the both birds seem to have permanent partners. The paired Spotted Dove seen when they are at rest while the Peaceful Doves moves around and rest in pairs constantly. Furthermore the Peaceful Dove could get themselves domesticated without being caged. I have a pair breeding in the rain garter of my house. My buddy has a pair feeding off his palm. |
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3. Jambu Fruit Dove Ptilinopus jambu
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The Jambu Fruit Dove, now an endangered species is a very colorful bird at 26 cm. This is a forest bird that remains in thick lowland forest and also at times up in the sub-montane areas. The bird is a common resident in Sumatra and Borneo Island and rated as uncommon resident in Malaysia. From the pictures of the female I have taken, they show that bird is a fruit hunter |
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4. Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
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At 25 cm, this bulky looking bird is resident to the thick lowland forest. This is a resident in the Indian Sub-continent Now it is a resident in Malaysia. From pictures, paved roads and jungle tracks are the favorite for this bird. They are ground forager and easily seen on deserted roads. Extremely shy yet seasoned bird, they would continue their chores of seeking out food when approached. However they keep their distances, and keep maintaining the distances when I move towards them. Definitely a ground bird, while seen dashing across the lower storey. of the forest so often. |
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5. Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps assimilis
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This an unusual Dove straying away slightly from the rounded body shape to that of the slim Cuckoo bird. This is a bird of South-west China to the Sundas. But now it is a common resident of the lowland forest and up to the sub-montane region. This bird prefers thick forest where it can perched with ease and dashing through the foliage. Though a large size bird, when it was perched with no movement, very hard to detect despite of its bright colors. It is feeding on seeds, only get to the bird feeding when the fruits bearing trees were at the forest edge. I found that most trees are on hills slope. This bird was seen often in Awana, a sub-montane forest. In Frasers Hills, the bird was spotted at the gap. Good way of tracking the bird is to know the fruiting season and the location of the trees. There are several over the hills in Perdik, Awana and Bukit Tinggi. That would be the only time that the bird stays put and would continue feeding uninterrupted by human presence. This bird is a fruit eater. |
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6. Little Cuckoo Dove Macropygia ruficeps malayana
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Similar in looks and size of the lowland Little Cuckoo Dove. The main different is the darker mottling that appears on the breast. This is a bird of the sub-montane forest. The bird is most common in Frasers Hills and also at the Old Pump House Road. Unlike its lowland cousin, this bird choose its perched on branches that are exposed. That made the bird being seen more often. Although the lowland species did visit places in Sub-montane forest but depends so much on the area. Both species were not spotted at the same place. That makes the distinction of habitats for both birds very obvious. Need not be bothered about the location to seek out the bird. Sighting by chance meeting and the frequency is very good. |
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The pictures of the Doves show that these birds bear close resemblances with the Pigeon which are also thrown into this group. From the list of Doves mentioned, whatever pictures posted is a good representation of how often, these could be sighted. The number of pictures also demonstrates, even with meeting up with the birds, I was given the chance to see them properly. For the low land species I have small numbers of pictures and the sub-montane species of the Little Cuckoo Dove I got the full set. Good demonstration of how well the bird could be sighted. See more of its kind under the page titled "Pigeon" |
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