California is a fantastic place for doll enthusiasts , especially those concerned indoves . With its divers habitats ranging from coastal areas to deserts and forest , the country hosts a wide salmagundi of bird specie . Among them , thetypes of dove in Californiaare peculiarly interesting due to their different size , colors , and behaviors . bonk how to identify these doves can greatly raise any birdwatching experience .
In this guide , we will research 15 vulgar and fascinatingtypes of dovesin California . Each species has singular features and habitats that make them easy to spot once you take what to look for . From the familiar Mourning Dove to less common visitors like the White - wing Dove , empathize these birds helps intensify grasp for California ’s rich avian multifariousness .
For those who bask watchingdoves in California , this article provides clear pictures and designation top for each case . Whether hiking , visiting a park , or savour a backyard , you will be able to recognize these elegant birds with confidence . Let ’s dive into the marvellous world of California ’s Columba !
Common Types of Doves Found in California
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
The Mourning Dove is one of the most common and widespread dove specie across North America . It is average - sized , with a slender body , small head , and long point tail edged with blank . Adults are generally light browned to buffy - tan overall , with fateful spots on the wings and a insidious pinkish hue on the bureau . Their lenient , mournful cooing call yield them their name and is often see in both urban and rural configurations .
This species is easily found in a wide-cut variety of home ground throughout California , include grassland , candid timberland , comeupance , farms , and suburban orbit . They are commonly see roost on baron blood or forage for seeds on the land . Mourning dove are particularly abundant in the Central Valley , coastal areas , and even urban common across the state .
Fun fact : Mourning Doves are solid fliers , up to of hit speeds up to 55 mph ( 88 km / h ) . They can raise multiple brood each year , sometimes up to six , thanks to their fast nesting cycle and adaptability . Their wings produce a distinctive whistling strait during takeoff , which can startle predators .
Inca Dove (Columbina inca)
The Inca Dove is a small , delicate dove have a go at it for its elaborately scaled show . Its feathers are light gray to blanch brown with dark edging , giving a scaly effect on both the caput and body . This specie also has long , narrow poop that show blanched outer feathers in flight . It often walks with a jerky , chief - bobbing move on the ground .
In California , Inca Dove are primarily found in the southeastern region , particularly in warm , dry urban or suburban habitats near the Mexican edge . They are most often spotted in places like Imperial County or San Diego County . Although considered uncommon or topically common , they have boom their compass north in recent decades , belike due to urban landscaping and tender temperatures .
sport fact : Inca Dove are live to roost communally in the cooler calendar month , forming tight clusters call “ dove towers ” where somebody stack on top of one another for warmth . Their gentle cooing sounds resemble the idiom “ no hope , ” giving a surprisingly drab tone to their vocalizations .
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
The Rock Pigeon , also known as the common pigeon , is a familiar sight in city and towns around the world . It is full-bodied in sizing with a stout body , pocket-size head , and broad wings . Most individuals are gray-headed with iridescent jet and purple neck feathers , two glowering fender bars , and a black band on the tail , though coloration can depart widely due to domesticate strains .
Originally aboriginal to Europe , North Africa , and westerly Asia , Rock Pigeons were introduced to North America in the former 1600s and have since become firmly established . In California , they are found statewide , particularly in urban environments like San Francisco , Los Angeles , and Sacramento , where they roost on buildings , bridge circuit , and other human structures .
playfulness fact : Rock Pigeons were historically used as messenger birds due to their excellent homing ability . Some domesticated varieties have escaped into the wild and now shuffle with savage populations , result to a wide smorgasbord of feather colors not typically seen in wild doves .
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
The Eurasiatic Collared - Dove is a pale hoary , intermediate - sized dove recognized by the narrow blackened crescent or “ collar ” on the back of its neck . It has a squared tail with broad whitened confidential information that are especially noticeable in flight . Its cooing is mystifying and rhythmical , often fork out as a repeated “ coo - COO - coo . ”
This species is a relatively recent reaching in California , having diffuse rapidly across North America after break away from captivity in the Bahamas in the 1970s . Today , it is common in suburban locality , agricultural areas , and small townsfolk throughout California , specially in the Central Valley and southern desert regions .
Fun fact : The Eurasiatic Collared - Dove is an aggressive colonizer and has expatiate its range faster than almost any other bird in North America . It ofttimes outcompetes native species like the Mourning Dove at feeders , have it a renowned comportment in backyard birdwatching .
Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
The Spotted Dove is an elegant bird with quick dark-brown plume and a distinctive black collar spotted with gabardine on the scruff of its cervix . It has a long , graduate hindquarters with white edges and subtle pink timber on its chest of drawers . compare to other doves , it appears large and more slender .
Spotted Doves were introduced to California from Asia in the early 20th century and became locally established , especially inSouthern California . Today , their numbers have declined significantly , but they can still occasionally be found in the Los Angeles orbit and environ suburb , favoring garden , parks , and restrained residential zones .
Fun fact : The Spotted Dove was once coarse in the Los Angeles Basin but has largely been displaced by the Eurasian Collared - Dove and habitat changes . Its soft , bubbling coo call is distinctive and often heard before the bird is see .
Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)
The Common Ground Dove is one of the smallest doves in North America , measure only about 6.5 inches ( 17 cm ) in length . It has a compact body , short tail end , and a scaled coming into court on its capitulum and tit . Its plumage is mostly chocolate-brown - greyish with cinnamon tones on the wings , which show rusty - blood-red in flight .
In California , the Common Ground Dove is primarily come up in the southeastern part of the state , especially in desert habitat like the Imperial Valley and piece of Riverside County . It prefer teetotal , scrubby areas and open timber with scattered shrubs , where it forages quietly on the ground for seed .
merriment fact : The call of the Common Ground Dove is a voiced , accelerating “ whoop ” or coo , which is astonishingly loud for such a pocket-size bird . It often goes unnoticed due to its camouflage and secretive nature , fuse easy into its environment .
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
The White - fly Dove is a medium - sized dove with striking snowy wing patch visible both at rest and in flight . Its body is a soft grey - brown , with a typical blue optic ring and black streak below the cheek . When fly , it shows broad white edges on its wing and a clean - tip stern .
This mintage is common in the desert regions of southeastern California , specially in areas like the Coachella Valley and the lower Colorado River Valley . It is also found in urban country where ornamental palm and fruiting tree diagram are planted . It incline to be more common in summer , as many individuals transmigrate from Mexico and the Southwest to cover .
playfulness fact : White - winged squab play a all-important role in pollinating the saguaro cactus in Arizona , and while saguaros are rare in California , these doves still show strong desert adaptations . They are also one of the few doves that drink water by sucking rather than outdo , appropriate for quick hydration .
Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)
The Band - tailed Pigeon is the largest pigeon native to North America , make lengths of about 14 inches ( 36 cm ) . It has a easy gray plumage , a discrete white crescent on the nape , a yellow pecker with a gloomy tip , and a large-minded , dark backside with a wan band across it . The middle tintinnabulation is often a vibrant lily-livered .
This mintage is primarily regain in the forested mountain regions of California , include the Sierra Nevada , coastal ranges , and parts of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains . It prefers oak and cone-bearing forests and sometimes chitchat feeders in foothill community , especially during drop and winter .
playfulness fact : Band - chase Pigeons are considered close relative of the nonextant Passenger Pigeon . They are strong , fast fliers and often travel in flock to forage on acorns , berry , and seeds . Their soft , owl - alike calls are often get wind echoing through wad canopy .
Ringed Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia risoria)
The Ringed Turtle - Dove is a domesticated dove , like in appearance to the Eurasian Collared - Dove but slimly small and more finely built . It has a pallid , creamy - ashen to light tan body with a distinct black collar on the nape . Its call is a soft , take over cooing .
This dove is not native to the wild but has been save in captivity for one C as a ducky and for ceremonial releases . at large individuals are sometimes observe in California , specially in warmer residential neighborhoods and near aviaries or parks . However , they rarely organise sustained wild populations .
Fun fact : Ringed Turtle - Doves have been bred in enslavement to produce various color morphs and are commonly used in magic display , weddings , and peacenik releases . Despite their tame nature , they keep on escape instinct and may hold up temporarily in the state of nature if precondition are suitable .
African Collared-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
The African Collared - Dove is closely relate to the domesticated Ringed Turtle - Dove and shares many physical feature . It has pale pinkish - hoary plume , a fateful cervix taking into custody , and blood-red eyes with a fragile eye ring . slenderly larger than the Ringed Turtle - Dove , it also shows a stronger build and slightly darker whole step on the extension .
In California , African Collared - Dove are rare and primarily result from loose or released chick kept in incarceration . Most sightings occur in suburban or semi - rural surface area in southerly and primal California , specially where citizenry keep doves or pigeon . These birds are not moot established in the wild .
Fun fact : Because they are so similar to Ringed Turtle - Doves , recognition in the field can be tricky . Birders sometimes moot over sightings of these two species , especially when observing dove flocks near urban parks . They are among the few dove species that have never formed a ego - sustaining dotty population in California .
Domestic Fancy Pigeons
Domestic Fancy Pigeons are a wide variety show of selectively bred pattern of the Rock Pigeon ( Columba livia ) . These birds exhibit a remarkable variety in coming into court , including unequalled plumage structures , color patterns , eubstance shapes , and even flight styles . Breeds such as Fantails , Modenas , Tumblers , and Homing pigeon are well - known examples .
In California , these pigeon are not barbarian species but frequently seem due to leak from individual breeders , hobbyists , and ceremonial releases . metropolis like Los Angeles , San Francisco , and Sacramento have legion sightings of these birds mix with hazardous Rock Pigeons . They often survive well in urban environment , especially where food is abundant .
sport fact : Some fancy pigeon breeds are ineffectual to hold up in the wilderness for foresightful due to reducedflight abilitiesor gamy visibility to predators . However , others like Homing pigeon are known for their strong orientation course skills and have been used for messaging and race for 100 .
Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti)
The Ruddy Ground Dove is a little , warm - colored dove aboriginal to Central and South America . Males have plenteous rufous - browned plumage with dark topographic point on the wings , while female person are paler and more grayish - brown . It measure around 6.5 in ( 16.5 cm ) in length and has a short , squared tail .
In California , this species is considered very rare , with only a handful of sighting typically occurring in the southern part of the land near the Mexican border . These drifting someone are often observed by experienced birders in desert preserves or candid fields during strange migration events or irruptions .
sport fact : The Ruddy Ground Dove has an unbelievably large range in Latin America and is one of the most mutual doves in part of its native habitat . Its rare appearing in the U.S. arc excitement among birdwatchers , specially in Arizona and California .
Red-billed Pigeon (Patagioenas flavirostris)
The Red - bill Pigeon is a robust , bass - purpleness to slate - gray-headed pigeon with a reddish bill tipped with white and flushed legs . It grows up to 14 inches ( 35 cm ) long and has a more undifferentiated dark coloration than other pigeons . The eyes are typically ruby - orange , standing out against the moody face .
This species is in the first place bump in Mexico and southern Texas but is considered a rare visitor to southern California , specially near San Diego County . Sightings are very infrequent and typically take lonely birds that have strayed beyond their normal range .
Fun fact : Red - billed pigeon are known to be diffident and secretive in their aboriginal habitats , often gravel to slow river timberland . Their rare condition in California make them a look for - after species for regional bird tilt .
White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi)
The White - tipped Dove is a medium - sized , reason - abode peacenik with diffused grey - dark-brown plumage , a wan face , and distinctive white gratuity on its taboo tail feathering , visible in flight . It also has blue skin around the eyes and pinkish stage . It measures around 11 column inch ( 28 cm ) in length .
This mintage is native to Central America and the southern part of Texas and Mexico . In California , its presence is extremely uncertain and debated . A few unconfirmed or questionable reports exist from southerly counties , possibly affect escape razzing or misidentified person .
Fun fact : White - tipped Columba are secretive and prefer forested or shrubby habitat . Their low , mournful cooing can often be heard before they ’re seen . In area where they are aboriginal , they play a central use in seed dissemination for understory plants .
Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
The Passenger Pigeon was once among the most numerousbird specieson Earth , with tidy sum so huge they darkened the sky for hours . It had a slim body , retentive tail , and colourful feather : male person were blueish - white-haired above with cinnamon underparts , while females were softened in quality .
Though primarily disperse across the eastern and central United States , historical disk argue that Passenger pigeon were occasionally seen in California during the nineteenth century . These sightings were likely during unpredictable migration or storm - assisted move , though the state was on the far western edge of its range .
merriment fact : The species went out in 1914 when the last known individual , mention Martha , died in immurement at the Cincinnati Zoo . Its extinction is one of the most tragical examples of the shock of unregulated hunting and habitat demolition . Today , it serves as a cautionary symbol in conservation forget me drug .
