African Olive Pigeon vs Speckled Pigeon

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Large400 gForest

The adult male African olive pigeon is a large pigeon at 37 to 42 cm (15 to 17 in) in length and a weight of 300 to 450 g (11 to 16 oz). Its back and wings are maroon, with the shoulders heavily speckled with white spots. The underparts are maroon with heavy white spotting, and the head is grey with yellow patches around the eye, and a yellow bill. The neck plumage, used in display, is streaked maroon and white, the underwing and undertail are dark grey, and the feet are yellow. Females are very similar to males but somewhat duller.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Matthew Hine · CC BY 2.0

Speckled Pigeon

Columba guinea

Large352 gShrubland

It is a medium-sized pigeon, at 32–35 cm in length similar in size to rock dove and stock dove. Its back and wings are rufous, the latter heavily speckled with white spots. The rest of the upperparts and underparts are blue-grey, and the head is grey with red patches of bare skin around the eye. The neck is brownish, streaked with white, and the legs are red. The sexes are similar, but immatures are browner than adults and lack the red eye patches. The call is a loud doo-doo-doo.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kjeuring · CC BY 3.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Olive Pigeon and Speckled Pigeon.