The Namaqua dove, Oena Capensis, as it is scientifically known, belongs to the Columbidae family. It is also commonly known as a Cape dove. The distribution of this dove is widespread in the range that includes Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and also Arabian Peninsula that includes Israel, Jordan, and Turkey. The habitat of this dove includes open sandy areas, thorny fields, and savannas like Acacia. In South Africa, it has been observed to show a preference for open savanna types of habitat. This bird is known to be highly terrestrial, and its food includes seeds of grasses, sedges, and weeds, and feeding takes place in open areas and roadsides. The reproduction is known to be monogamous, and in most of its range, the breeding takes place all year. Just like other birds, this dove or pigeon is also known to engage in courtship displays or rituals. The nests of these birds are small and delicate made with twigs and lined with grass and are placed on low bushes. Females are known to lay two yellowish eggs, and incubation takes place for about 13-16 days, and fledging happens in two weeks. The plumage of these small birds is known to be brownish-grayish in color, and sexual dimorphism exists in this dove. The legs are reddish-purple, and the bill is known to have a reddish base. The tail of this pigeon is known to be quite long, tapered, and black in color. The juveniles are born with a speckled or spotted plumage. The eyes of this bird are known to be dark brown in color. The behavior of this bird is not gregarious and thus, is usually spotted or observed in pairs or alone. This dove, like other doves, is known for its powerful flight and flight patterns. The song of this bird sounds like double hoo. Due to its widespread population and local abundance, the conservation status of these birds is of Least Concern, and no major threats to this dove or pigeon have been recorded.It is quite gripping to learn more about this dove and if you are interested, read about dove facts and blue jay facts too.
Fun Namaqua Dove Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat? Herbivores
Average litter size? 2
How much do they weigh? 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they? 8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, White, Gray
Skin Type Feathery
What were their main threats? N/a
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Deserts
Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
Namaqua Dove Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is a Namaqua dove?Namaqua dove, Oena Capensis, is a bird.What class of animal does a Namaqua dove belong to?It belongs to the class Aves.How many Namaqua doves are there in the world?There has been no exact number or count of these birds estimated or recorded.Where does a Namaqua dove live?The distribution of the population of this pigeon is widespread in the range that includes parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and also the Arabian Peninsula that includes Israel, Jordan, and Turkey.What is a Namaqua dove’s habitat?These birds are known to inhabit open sandy areas, thorny fields, and savannas like Acacia. They can also be spotted in grasslands and cultivated regions or types of habitat. These doves or pigeons inhabit lowlands in tropical and sub-tropical areas or regions with elevations of around 5,000ft (1,500m). The nests are known to be placed low on the ground among bushes. It has been observed that these doves prefer open savannas and semi-arid regions or habitats in South Africa.Who do Namaqua doves live with?These birds are mostly known to be seen or spotted alone or in pairs.How long does a Namaqua dove live?The lifespan of the Namaqua dove, Oena Capensis, is unknown.How do they reproduce?The reproduction system of this pigeon is known to be monogamous; the Namaqua dove pair or the breeding pair is formed for the long term. It has been observed that this dove breeds all year in most of its range, and there might be some differences based on range or region and even rainfall. These birds are also known to perform courtship rituals or displays before breeding or mating by wings and flying. Its nest is made or built with small woven twigs and roots, and the lining of the nest is done with grass. This nest is known to be small, flat, and delicate. The nest of these birds is usually placed or put in low bushes and open areas and is known to be not concealed or hidden properly. It is built by both males and females. Two yellowish eggs are laid, and incubation is done by both the parents, and it takes place for about 13-16 days. Parents feed the young ones several times a day. Fledgling is known to happen at around two weeks and thus, become independent.What is their conservation status?The conservation status of these birds is of Least Concern.Namaqua Dove Fun FactsWhat do Namaqua doves look like?This is known to be a small or tiny pigeon or dove. An adult male Namaqua dove, Oena Capensis, is known to have a black face, chin, and throat, and the front part of the breast is also known to be black and is bordered with grayish or white color. The head, sides of the breast, coverts of the wings, and neck are known to be light, pale, or dull grayish-blue. The rump and the back of this dove or pigeon are brownish in color. The primary wing or feathers are known to be chestnut-colored with a black tip and black-colored outer edge. The plumage of the female is known to be brownish-gray and is known to be duller or paler than that of a male. The distinguishing feature between a male and female is that the females do not have a black mask and rather have grayish-colored parts. The bill of these birds is known to have an orange-yellowish tip with a reddish base, and a female is known to have dark reddish colored bills as compared to a male. The eyes are known to be dark-brown in color. The tails of this species are long, tapered, and black in color. The young ones are known to have spotted plumage. The legs of these birds are reddish-purple. The shape and size of this bird’s tail are known to be compared often with that of a budgie.How cute are they?Some people consider these birds cute because of their size and plumage.How do they communicate?Not much information is available about the communication of this dove but just like other birds, these birds are also known to produce sounds and calls of various kinds.How big is a Namaqua dove?This species is known to be smaller than most pigeon species like the Nicobar pigeon and bigger than sparrows. The Namaqua dove length ranges from 8.66-11 in (22-28 cm).How fast can a Namaqua dove fly?The exact speed of this dove is unknown, but they are known to be quite fast with a clipped pattern of beats of wings. The wingspan of this species is around 11-13 in (28-33 cm).How much does a Namaqua dove weigh?The weight of these birds ranges from around 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg).What are the male and female names of the species?There are no particular names for a male and female of this species.What would you call a baby Namaqua dove?There is no specific name for a baby of this species, and they are commonly referred to as juveniles or young ones.What do they eat?The Namaqua dove, Oena Capensis, as it is scientifically called, is known to feed almost exclusively on or their food or diet consists of seeds of grasses, weeds, and sedges. It has been observed that these birds mostly forage or feeding happens on roadsides and open areas or grounds.Are they poisonous?These birds are not poisonous.Would they make a good pet?Not much information is available about these birds as pets and can be mostly seen in large aviaries, sometimes with other species like the diamond dove.Did you know…In the Oena genus, this dove or pigeon is known to be the only species.This bird is also commonly referred to as a cape dove, a masked dove, and sometimes as a long-tailed dove.The first description of the Namaqua dove was done by a French zoologist named Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760.The name of Oena is known to have its root in the ancient Greek word ‘oinas,’ which means pigeon. This genus is known to be introduced by William John Swainson, an English Naturalist, in 1837.Two subspecies of this bird have been recognized or classified Oena Capensis Capensis and Oena Capenis Aliena. The former is known to be found in the Arabian peninsula and sub-Saharan Africa, while the latter is found in Madagascar.It is known to be the smallest dove found in South Africa.It is known to be a terrestrial dove or pigeon and is not considered to be a gregarious one and thus, is mostly seen or spotted in pairs or alone but can be seen or observed in large groups or flocks around waterholes.The Namaqua dove sound or song sounds like double hoo, which goes higher on the second part of the note, which is considered to be longer.It is known to be similarly sized to a House-sparrow.Doves are generally known for their precise and strong flight, and flight pattern and spinning or twirling sounds made by their wings.These birds are not known to be highly territorial.How did Namaqua doves get their name?It is believed that the name of this dove or pigeon has been derived from the Namaqualand area, covering Namibia and South Africa, which is considered to be a dry area.What is unique about Namaqua doves?The long tail of this dove or pigeon and this species being the only species in the genus Oena make this bird unique.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our western kingbird facts and hummingbird facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Namaqua dove coloring pages.
What type of animal is a Namaqua dove?
Namaqua dove, Oena Capensis, is a bird.
Fun Namaqua Dove Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat? Herbivores
Average litter size? 2
How much do they weigh? 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they? 8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, White, Gray
Skin Type Feathery
What were their main threats? N/a
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Deserts
Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
Fun Namaqua Dove Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat? Herbivores
Average litter size? 2
How much do they weigh? 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they? 8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, White, Gray
Skin Type Feathery
What were their main threats? N/a
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Deserts
Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
Fun Namaqua Dove Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat? Herbivores
Average litter size? 2
How much do they weigh? 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they? 8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, White, Gray
Skin Type Feathery
What were their main threats? N/a
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Deserts
Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
Fun Namaqua Dove Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat? Herbivores
Average litter size? 2
How much do they weigh? 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they? 8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, White, Gray
Skin Type Feathery
What were their main threats? N/a
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Deserts
Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
What do they prey on? Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat? Herbivores
Average litter size? 2
How much do they weigh? 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they? 8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, White, Gray
Skin Type Feathery
What were their main threats? N/a
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Deserts
Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
What do they prey on? Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat? Herbivores
Average litter size? 2
How much do they weigh? 0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they? 8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Black, White, Gray
Skin Type Feathery
What were their main threats? N/a
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
What do they prey on?
Seeds, Grasses, Weeds
What do they eat?
Herbivores
Average litter size?
2
How much do they weigh?
0.06-0.11 lb (0.028-0.054 kg)
How long are they?
8.66-11 in (220-280 mm)
How tall are they?
N/A
What do they look like?
Black, White, Gray
Skin Type
Feathery
What were their main threats?
N/a
What is their conservation status?
Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Deserts
Locations Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
Where you’ll find them?
Deserts
Locations
Sub-saharan Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Oena
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Oena
Class Aves
Family Columbidae
