Spotted dove
The spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) is a small long-tailed pigeon that is a common and native to the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia. The species has been introduced to many parts of the world and feral populations have become established.
| Spotted dove | |
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| S. c. suratensis in India | |
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| S. c. tigrina (tigrina) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Genus: | Spilopelia |
| Species: | S. chinensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Spilopelia chinensis (Scopoli, 1768)
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| Subspecies | |
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See text | |
| Synonyms | |
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This species was formerly included in the genus Streptopelia with other turtle-doves, but studies suggest that they differ from typical members of that genus. This dove is long tailed buff brown with a white-spotted black collar patch on the back and sides of the neck. The tail tips are white and the wing coverts have light buff spots.
There are considerable plumage variations across populations within its wide range. The species is found in light forests and gardens as well as in urban areas. They fly from the ground with an explosive flutter and will sometimes glide down to a perch. It is also called the mountain dove, pearl-necked dove, lace-necked dove, and spotted turtle-dove.
References
change- ↑ BirdLife International (2015). "Spilopelia chinensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
Other Websites
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- Xeno-canto: audio recordings of the spotted dove
- Photographs and other media on the Internet Bird Collection
- Pigeon taxonomy
- Spotted Dove Photos (Dark Mutation)
