Streptopelia decipiens
African Mourning Doves inhabit tall riverine woodlands, feeding predominantly on grasses, seeds and small fruits, and occasionally termites, found by foraging on the ground. They are quite large doves, adults weighing around 160g and measuring about 30cm in length. This dove is usually seen singly or in monogamous pairs, only rarely congregating in larger groups, but often associates with other kinds of doves. They appear to breed throughout the year, using flimsy stick platform-nests built in trees. Typically, clutches contain 2 eggs.
The African Mourning Dove has a limited distribution in South Africa, occurring only in the Limpopo Valley and Lowveld, where the Kruger National Park‘s Letaba, Satara and Shingwedzi Camps are excellent locations to go looking for them, and enjoying their characteristic voices. They’re distributed more widely, if patchily, north of our borders, occurring through east Africa and the Sahel. The IUCN considers the African Mourning Dove to be of least concern.
DeWetsWild 
I have two in my garden… I see them and am filled with joy and blessing. Sometimes, they forage jn my cats dry food.
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They obviously feel right at home!
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Pretty dove, more colorful than ours over here.
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They definitely are pretty, and rather confiding, Hien, and to me their most precious attribute is their characteristic mournful cooing.
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I first came across these doves in the Okavango. I also enjoy their characteristic call.
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They provide such lovely background music at Shingwedzi, Letaba and Satara!
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Ek hou van hulle geluid…dis so weemoedig. Mooi foto’s, Dries!
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Ek is ook baie lief vir hul geluid, Dina – dis asof hulle saggies met n mens gesels!
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African Mourning Doves are synonymous with the Kruger Park – lovely photographs!
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Thank you, Anne!
Yes, hearing their cooing and gurgling is something I will forever associate with the Kruger (as with the chirrrrrring of the Woodland Kingfisher!)
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Interesting color around the eye. We have several species of dove here too, although most species only visit in spring or summer.
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That’s very interesting, Montucky; We have many kinds of birds that migrate here only for the summer, but all our doves and pigeons remain here in the colder months, so I was under the impression that they’re more “sedentary” kinds of birds!
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we have these here too.
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Thanks Gavin – that’s most intriguing!
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