African Collared Dove or Mourning Dove?
Here's how to tell the difference
African Collared Dove
Mourning Dove
African Collared Dove
Streptopelia roseogrisea
General appearance
The African Collared-Dove is slightly smaller than the Eurasian Collared-Dove. They generally possess a light grey feather coat with distinctive black semi-circular line on the back of their neck, giving them their collared name. It is difficult to distinguish them from the Eurasian variety as their appearance in the wild is rare.
Male vs female
Males and females are similar in appearance, making it difficult to differentiate between sexes based on visual features. Both genders strut the same light grey coloration with contrasting black neck collars. Size and behavior patterns may sometimes provide clues, but visual identification remains challenging.
Juvenile
Juvenile African Collared-Doves resemble adults but lack the characteristic black collar. Their plumage is slightly duller than adults and they feature less distinct markings. With age, they develop the collar and their feather coloring shifts towards the grey hue distinctive of the species.
Size
9.8 - 10.6 in/4.6 - 5.9 oz
There's more to learn about African Collared Dove
View full detailsMourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Also known as: American Mourning Dove, Rain Dove, Turtle Dove, Carolina Pigeon, Carolina Turtledove
General appearance
The mourning dove is roughly the size of a crow, bearing characteristics of a long, pointed tail which is about 12', or 30 cm long. This tail displays white spots along its edge while in flight. The bird’s wings are adorned with black spots and its overall coloration exhibits hues of black, brown, gray, pink, tan, and white. The dove has a pointed, wedge-shaped tail.
Male vs female
The sexes of mourning doves can be distinguished by their coloration. Adult males generally have a pinkish tinge on their chests and a blue-gray tone on their crowns. However, the female doves are more dull and plain, predominantly appearing in a shade of brown.
Juvenile
Young mourning doves have a unique scaly appearance that can lead them to be confused with the Inca Dove or the Common Ground Dove. They do not possess the vivid coloring of the adults and generally appear more muted in color.
Size
9.1 - 13.4 in/3.0 - 6.0 oz
There's more to learn about Mourning Dove
View full detailsHow to tell the African Collared Dove from the Mourning Dove
Visual differences
The African Collared Dove is smaller, weighing 4.6-5.9 oz and measuring about 9.8-10.6 inches, with a light gray plumage and a distinctive black neck collar. In contrast, the Mourning Dove, weighing 3-6 oz and 9-13 inches long, is notable for its pointed, wedge-shaped tail with white spots and a combination of black, brown, gray, pink, tan, and white hues. Mourning Doves have black wing spots and males exhibit a pinkish-chest, whereas African Collared Doves lack these features.
Key differences and behavior
The African Collared Dove and Mourning Dove exhibit distinct behaviors and habitat preferences. African Collared Doves are sociable, often forming large groups near water in semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and have high urban adaptability. Mourning Doves are more solitary, frequenting open and semi-open areas across North America, including farmlands and suburbs, avoiding dense forests. In breeding, African Collared Doves engage in aerial displays and share incubation duties, while Mourning Doves perform courtship flights and may nest at varying heights, with the female choosing the site. Both species eat mainly seeds, but African Collared Doves include more insects during breeding, whereas Mourning Doves occasionally consume snails. Both are drawn to bird feeders offering seeds like millet and cracked corn. African Collared Doves are less wary of humans compared to the elusive nature of Mourning Doves.
Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!
African Collared Dove vs Eurasian Collared Dove
African Collared Dove vs White-Winged Dove
Mourning Dove vs Eurasian Collared Dove
Mourning Dove vs White-Winged Dove
Mourning Dove vs Band-Tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove vs White-Tipped Dove
Mourning Dove vs Common Ground-Dove
Mourning Dove vs Inca Dove
African Collared Dove vs [Select a bird]
[Select a bird]
Pick a bird to compare
Mourning Dove vs [Select a bird]
[Select a bird]
Pick a bird to compare