Namaqua dove (Oena capensis)

9 inches long.

The dove is a widespread resident breeding bird in Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar with its range extending into the Arabian Peninsula, southern Israel, Jordan and as far north as Turkey. It is found in near desert with acacia and bushes. It is quite terrestrial, and usually forages on open ground and roadsides. It is not gregarious, being encountered singly or in pairs, though they may form larger flocks at waterholes. The flight is fast with clipped beats and a tendency to stay low.

The food is almost exclusively minute seeds, such as those of grasses, sedges and weeds.

It builds a stick nest more solid than most dove’s nests and lined with fine rootlets in a bush or aloe. It lays two white eggs, which are incubated for 16 days in typical pigeon fashion; the female at night and early morning and the male from mid morning till late afternoon.

The song is a quiet, short, double hoo, higher on the longer second note kuh-whooo, mournful and frequently repeated.

Photographed in Madikwe Game Reserve, North West, South Africa.