The lemon dove or cinnamon dove is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae found in montane forests of sub-Saharan Africa. The São Tomé lemon dove is usually treated as a subspecies. The lemon dove has a generally brownish-grey plumage with a cinnamon brown breast. Males have a greenish-glossed neck and white markings on the head, and females and juveniles are rather more brown and have grey facial markings. This dove is a common species, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa montane forests
Typical Environment
The lemon dove inhabits evergreen and montane forests from West and Central Africa through the Eastern Arc and southward to southern Africa, with an insular form on São Tomé often treated as a subspecies. It prefers dense understory, thickets, and forest edges, especially near streams and clearings. Birds typically forage on the ground in shaded, moist leaf litter, but will also visit forest paths and small glades. Local movements may occur in response to fruiting cycles and rainfall. It is absent from open savannas and very arid zones.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called the cinnamon dove, it favors shady, densely vegetated forests and is often seen walking quietly on the leaf-littered floor. Males show a greenish iridescence on the neck and crisp white facial markings, while females are duller and browner. It is generally shy and can be easier to detect by its low, repetitive cooing. Despite forest loss in parts of its range, it remains widespread and assessed as Least Concern.
At Birds of Eden aviary
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, direct flight through forest gaps
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense cover on the forest floor. It builds a flimsy platform nest of twigs placed in low trees or dense shrubs. Both sexes participate in incubation and chick rearing. Breeding timing varies regionally, often aligned with wetter seasons.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, low series of mellow coos delivered from concealed perches or from within dense understory. Phrases are repeated in steady rhythm and can carry surprisingly far in quiet forest. Calls are often the best clue to its presence.
Plumage
Generally brownish-grey with a warm cinnamon breast and darker wings and tail; males have a greenish-glossed neck and crisp white facial lines, females are duller with grey-brown tones. Underparts are smooth in texture with subtle shading, and the overall appearance is sleek and unspotted. Flight feathers are darker, creating mild contrast with the mantle. Juveniles resemble females but are duller and lack strong iridescence.
Diet
Feeds primarily on fallen fruits and berries, small seeds, and other plant material gathered from the forest floor. It also takes small invertebrates such as insects or snails opportunistically. Foraging involves quiet walking and pecking, with occasional scratching in leaf litter. It may follow fruiting events and exploit seasonal abundance.
Preferred Environment
Dense, shaded forest floor, especially along trails, clearings, and near watercourses where leaf litter accumulates. It remains close to cover and retreats quickly when disturbed.
