The red collared dove, also known as the red turtle dove, is a small pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in the tropics of Asia. The male has a blue-grey head and a red-brown body. The female is much plainer, with pale brown plumage similar to that of the larger Eurasian collared dove.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
The red collared dove ranges from the Indian subcontinent east through Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with pockets in southern China and Indonesia. It favors open agricultural landscapes, scrub, village edges, parks, and lightly wooded areas. It avoids dense forest but uses groves, palms, and roadside trees for roosting and nesting. Urban edges and irrigated fields are commonly occupied where seed resources are abundant.
Altitude Range
0–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called the red turtle dove, this small pigeon thrives in open country, farmland, and towns across tropical Asia. Males show a neat black half-collar contrasting with a blue-grey head and rich rufous body, while females are sandy-brown and plainer. They often forage on the ground in pairs or small flocks and readily use scattered trees or wires for perching.
Novotel - Bangkok
Male, Bang Pa-In Palace, Thailand
Temperament
social and alert
Flight Pattern
fast, direct flight with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often seen in pairs or small loose flocks, especially at feeding and watering sites. Courtship includes bowing displays and soft cooing by the male. Nests are flimsy twig platforms placed in small trees, shrubs, or on building ledges; both parents share incubation and chick-rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
A soft, rhythmic series of coos, typically a mellow two- to three-note phrase repeated at intervals. Calls carry well in open habitats and are used for mate attraction and territory advertisement.
