About the Speckled Pigeon
The speckled pigeon, also known as the African rock pigeon or Guinea pigeon, is a pigeon that is a resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common and widespread species in open habitats over much of its range, although there are sizable gaps in its distribution.
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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.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Speckled Pigeon lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Spain, Central African Republic, Malawi.
When to see the Speckled Pigeon
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
African Olive PigeonColumba arquatrixThe 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).
White-headed PigeonColumba leucomelaThe white-headed pigeon draws its name from its distinctive white head, neck, breast, and belly.
Hill PigeonColumba rupestrisThe hill pigeon is a stout-bodied pigeon, similar in size and general appearance to the rock dove (Columba livia) but mainly differentiated by its tail pattern which consists of a broad, white tail-band across the black tail.
Side by side: Rock Dove vs Speckled Pigeon · Common Wood Pigeon vs Speckled Pigeon · Speckled Pigeon vs Stock Dove
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