Bird Guide

Oriental Turtle Dove vs Red-eyed Dove

Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Medium233 gWoodland

The Oriental dove is very similar in plumage to the Turtle dove. It is a little larger than that species, particularly in the case of orientalis, about the same size as a collared dove. It shares the black and white striped patch on the side of its neck made of silver-tipped feathers, but the breast is less pink, and the orange-brown wing feathers of the turtle dove are replaced with a browner hue, and darker centres giving a scaly appearance. The tail is wedge shaped, like the turtle dove. The flight is more relaxed and direct than that of its relative. Voice: The calls are different from the purring of the European turtle dove. It is a four-syllable her-her-oo-oo. There are significant call differences within the populations as well.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: IMORI MIHO · CC BY 4.0
Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

Red-eyed Dove

Streptopelia semitorquata

Medium176 gShrubland

The red-eyed dove's pale bluish gray forehead merges into a darker hue on the crown. The neck, breast, and underparts, are dark mauve-pink to wine-red, upperparts are grayish brown, and primaries are black. Outer wing-coverts are dark slaty blue. Flanks, sides of rump, and underwing-coverts are bluish gray. Rectrices are dark gray basally, light brownish gray on the terminal half. Neck has a black half-collar. Iris varies from yellowish to orange to red or orange-brown. Orbital skin is purplish red. Bill is black. Legs are purplish red.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: bogsuckers · CC BY 4.0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Oriental Turtle Dove and Red-eyed Dove.