The Tawitawi brown dove, also dark-eared brown dove, is a threatened species of bird in the family Columbidae noted for its orange-peach breast. It is endemic to forests in the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. Until recently it was considered conspecific with the Mindanao brown dove and collectively called the dark-eared brown dove. Although threatened by habitat loss, the rate of loss significantly reduced from 2004 to 2007, and it was thus downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered status in the 2007 IUCN Red List.
Region
Sulu Archipelago
Typical Environment
Occurs on forested islands in the southern Philippines, with the stronghold on Tawi-Tawi. It favors mature lowland forest and well-regenerated secondary growth with dense understory. Birds often keep to shaded gullies, forest floor, and edges near fruiting trees. It tolerates some disturbance but is most frequent in intact lowland forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 700 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the dark-eared brown dove, it shows a warm orange-peach breast and dusky ear coverts that contrast with a grayish crown. It is shy and largely terrestrial, often slipping through dense understory and foraging quietly on the forest floor. Endemic to the Sulu Archipelago, it has suffered from habitat loss and hunting, though forest loss has slowed in recent years. Vocalizations are soft, low coos, making it easy to overlook.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, swift dashes through understory
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs within dense forest. Nests are flimsy twig platforms placed low to mid-level in shrubs or small trees. Clutch is typically one to two eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and chick rearing.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A soft, low series of cooing notes, often delivered from concealed perches. Phrases are mournful and repetitive, carrying only a short distance through dense foliage.
