Distinguishing Characteristics

Detailed review (Aldrich 1993) briefly summarized here. Streamlined, mid-sized columbid with small head and long graduated tail. Total length, males: 26.5–34 cm; females: 22.5–31 cm. Color grayish blue or grayish brown above, buffy below. Black spots on wing coverts and behind eye. Wing and tail feathers gray except for black-bordered white tips on tail. Delicate, black bill; dull red legs and feet. Eyes dark brown bordered by bluish skin. Adult male slightly more colorful than female, with pale rosy breast versus tannish in female. Male head has bluish crown and nape, female brownish. Considerable potential exists for misclassifying gender based solely on morphological characteristics (Schulz et al. 1995).

Nestlings and recent fledglings have whitish or buffy tips on wing and back feathers and are mottled elsewhere (Reeves and Amend 1970). Immatures have buffy-tipped primary wing coverts (Pearson and Moore 1940, Reeves et al. 1968, Sadler et al. 1970). Maolt of buffy-tipped coverts precedes primary molt by two feathers making accurate age determine problematic after the eighth primary has been dropped and replaced (Schulz et al. 1995).

May be confused with several other species including White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica), Zenaida Dove (Z. aurita), Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Ringed Turtle-Dove (S. risoria), and Spotted Dove (S. chinensis). Distinguished from White-winged Dove by lack of white patches in wing (prominent in flight) and long, pointed (not rounded) tail. Distinguished from Zenaida Dove by lack of white on trailing edge of secondaries and long, pointed (not rounded) tail. Distinguished from Eurasian Collared-Dove and Ringed Turtle-Dove (non-native species now breeding in North America) by lack of black collar band and pointed (not rounded) tail. The Spotted Dove (another non-native species now found in California) has a large black neck band spotted with white and a more rounded tail.