Zebra Dove

The Zebra Dove is native to Southeast Asia and has been introduced to Hawaii and several other Pacific locations, where it has become well established. It is a small dove with a pale gray-brown base color overlaid by bold, extensive black barring across the neck, breast, and flanks, producing the striped pattern that gives the species its common name. It is a familiar bird in gardens, parks, and open agricultural land throughout its range.

• Neck, breast, and flank feathers: heavy black barring on a pale background, more extensive and bolder than in the closely related Peaceful Dove
• Back and wing covert feathers: plainer grayish-brown with less barring than the underparts
• Tail feathers: dark with white outer edges, visible in flight and when the tail is spread
• Overall pattern: the barring extends further down the body than in most related Geopelia doves, reaching well onto the flanks
• Compare with the Peaceful Dove, whose barring is finer and largely restricted to the neck and upper breast

Sexes look similar. Juveniles show duller, less well-defined barring and an overall browner appearance, gaining the bold adult pattern after their first molt. Adults undergo a complete annual molt and may breed repeatedly through favorable seasons.

Native to Southeast Asia, the Zebra Dove has also become established through introduction in Hawaii and other Pacific islands. It favors open country, farmland, gardens, and urban parks, and is generally a non-migratory resident wherever it occurs.

This dove forages on the ground for small seeds and is often quite tame around humans, especially in urban parks where it has become well established. Its call is a soft, bubbling series of coos. Nests are small, flimsy stick platforms built low in shrubs or trees. It is frequently seen in pairs or small groups foraging in open, grassy areas.