Dove :
More than 300 species of doves and pigeons (really the same type of bird, although the term pigeon generally denotes a larger bird) make up the avian family Columbidae in the order Columbiformes. These seed- or fruit-eating, large-bodied birds are often found in aviaries, but they can also make excellent pets. Two of the most common species, the ring-necked and diamond doves, come in a variety of mutations. You’ll find several bird clubs devoted just to doves, and other clubs – local, national and international – focus exclusively on racing or homing pigeons. .
Scientific Name : Streptopelia risoria
Distribution:
The Diamond Dove is one of the smallest doves and is considered to be one of the most beautiful!
Geopelia cuneata
The little Diamond Dove is very popular, second only to the largerRingneck Dove. It is a most delightful and attractive pet with beautiful white spots or "diamonds' on its wings and shoulders. It is a perfect choice for a beginner as it is very hardy and easy to keep. It will readily breed and makes an excellent foster parent for the young of other small dove species.
In the wild the Diamond Dove is quite prolific, but it is so extensively bred and readily available in captivity that it is generally considered to be a domestic dove.
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Doves & Pigeons.
Scientific Name:Geopelia cuneata (also Strictopelia cuneata)
Subspecies:
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Diamond Dove Geopelia cuneata cuneata
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Geopelia cuneata mungi
Distribution:
The Diamond Dove is found in central and northern Australia. They are members of a group commonly called the Turtle Doves. They inhabit open terrain, grasslands and sparsely wooded areas especially around water. They are also found in the parks and gardens of cities and towns.
Description:
The Diamond Dove is a small bird, a little larger than a canary, with a long tail. Mature birds are about 7 1/2 inches (19 cm) long and will weigh about 1 1/2 oz (45 g). Their average life span is about 10 years.
The head, breast, and neck are a light bluish-gray and the back is a light brown. The tail is a dark gray with the middle feathers tipped in black and the outer feathers tipped in white. The lower abdomen and under the tail are a creamy-white. The upper half of the wings and the shoulders are a brownish-gray scattered about with small white spots circled in black, thus the 'diamond' appearance. The lower half of the wing is a more chestnut color. The eye is orange-red surrounded by a coral-red orbital eye ring. The beak is olive brown and the legs are a pale pink.
The male will have a darker head, neck, and breast than the female and the orbital eye ring will be larger, though these characteristics are not readily apparent until they are at least 6 months old. A young bird will have a browner head and overall feathering, and the eye and surrounding orbital ring will be paler.
There are several mutations and color varieties of Diamond Doves with the most popular being silver. Others include varieties that are all white, dark gray, very brown, red, yellow, cinnamon, and pied.
Care and feeding:
Diamond Doves are usually kept in an aviary, but they can also easily be kept in a large parakeet cage with 3/8" bar spacing. The minimum size of the cage should be at least 18" square. Cages that are longer and wider are more important than tall cages as these birds flutter around and do not climb.
Like the Ringneck Dove they are quite hardy. If they are kept outdoors and are accustomed to cold weather, they can take below freezing temperatures for a couple of days, but it is best to provide a heat source.
A good finch or parakeet seed mix supplemented with greens rich in minerals, vitamins, and calcium is a fine diet. They not only enjoy their greens but will also enjoy spray millet, especially white millet. They also require grit and cuttlebone.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Housing and About Doves & Pigeons: Care and Feeding for more information.
Social Behaviors:
They are good-natured social creatures that do well when kept in cages or in aviaries. Being very peaceful and tolerant, they can be housed kept with finches and canaries. They form permanent pairs and mates do well if kept together.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Social Behaviors for more information on social behaviors of doves and pigeons.
Activities:
The Diamond Dove gets its exercise through short flights about the aviary. If kept in a cage, the larger the better so they can get some exercise there too.
Breeding/Reproduction:
These are one of the doves that is dimorphic, meaning it can be sexed visually. It generally takes several together in order to tell the difference between the male and female, but the male will have a noticeably larger orange ring circling the eye. This difference, however, does not become apparent until they are about 6 months old so younger birds will be difficult to determine.
Though Diamond Doves are not as prolific as the Ringnecks, they will breed in either a large cage or an aviary. They will need a nest, an open canary nest will work fine. Provide nesting materials such as dried grass and small twigs.
They female will lay two eggs which will hatch in 13 - 14 days. Be sure to remove the young when they are weaned as the parents may start attacking them in an attempt to run them off. They do make very good foster parents for the young of other similar sized doves.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.
Potential Problems:
These birds are hardy and healthy if provided with a good environment and a good diet. Avoid an environment that is wet, cool, and drafty.
The Diamond Dove is not normally handled as it is a bit more flighty and high-strung than the Ringneck Dove.
It is usually kept in an aviary but can also be kept in a cage as long as there is a quiet atmosphere with few disturbances.
Being very peaceful and tolerant, they can be kept with finches and canaries.
Availability:
Diamond Doves are readily available. Usually available at pet stores, but can also be found through bird shows, bird clubs or breeders
2- Mourning Dove ~ Carolina Dove
American Mourning Dove
Carolina Pigeon, Carolina Turtledove
The Mourning Dove, also known as the Carolina Dove, is the most abundant dove in the United States!
The Mourning Dove makes a great aviary pet. It is not normally handled as it is a bit flighty and high-strung. It will not take to a cage well but in an aviary it is very hardy and easy to breed. Generally docile, tolerant, and peaceful it can be kept with such birds as waxbills, larger finches, and canaries. Being a ground feeder it will pick up seeds dropped by the other birds.
A fairly attractive bird, the Mourning Dove has a slender build and a long tail. The habitat of this little bird covers a good portion of Northern and Central America. Most of us are very familiar it. Not only is the Mourning Dove the most widely hunted and harvested game bird, but we will often see one in our backyard or in the city park. It is probably this familiarity that makes it less popular to keep than some of its more exotic cousins.
While it is a game bird in some states, in other states it is protected as a songbird. Be sure to check your state and local restrictions before acquiring a Mourning Dove.
For more information about the care of Doves and Pigeons see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Doves & Pigeons.
Scientific Name:Zenaida macroura
Subspecies:
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Zenaida macroura macroura
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Zenaida macroura marginella
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Zenaida macroura carolinensis
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Zenaida macroura turturilla
Subspecies (tentative position):" id="Subspecies (tentative position):">Subspecies (tentative position):
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Zenaida macroura bella
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Zenaida macroura carolensis
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Zenaida macroura clarionensis
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Zenaida macroura carolinensis>marginella
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Zenaida macroura graysoni
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Zenaida macroura marginella>carolinensis
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Zenaida macroura x marginella
Distribution:
Mourning Doves are found from southern Canada down to western Panama and on some of the Caribbean Islands. There are six subspecies. They inhabit lightly wooded areas as well as parks and gardens in cities and towns.
Description:
The Mourning Dove is a slim bird with a small head and a long, pointed tail. Adults are about 12 inches (30 cm) in length and will weigh about 5 oz (140 g).
It has a gray-brownish color overall with a more sandy buff colored abdomen. The crown, back of the neck, and the nape are slate and the face and breast have a pinkish cast. There is a rather purplish area to the sides of the neck and a small black spot. The outer tail feathers are tipped in white and they have a black marking midway up. There are also black spots on the wings. The legs are reddish and there is a bluish ring around the eye.
The female has more brownish coloring overall and on the male, the purplish area on the neck is larger.
Care and feeding:
They are quite hardy. If they are kept outdoors and are accustomed to cold weather, they can take below freezing temperatures for a short period of time.
A good finch or parakeet seed mix supplemented with greens rich in minerals, vitamins, and calcium is a fine diet. They not only enjoy their greens, but will also enjoy spray millet and such things as crumbled cornmeal and bread. Grit is essential as Mourning Doves swallow their food whole, and it helps grind up the food. Oyster shell or even cuttlebone can be added for calcium and is important for egg layers.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Housing and About Doves & Pigeons: Care and Feeding for more information.
Social Behaviors:
Being very peaceful and tolerant, Mourning Doves can be kept with such birds as waxbills, larger finches, and canaries. They form permanent pairs and mates do well if kept together.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Social Behaviors for more information on social behaviors of doves and pigeons.
Activities:
They need plenty of room as they get their exercise through short flights about the aviary
Breeding/Reproduction:
Mourning Doves are easy to breed but they are rather flimsy nest builders, so it is best to provide them with an open nesting container and some nesting materials. The female will lay two eggs which hatch after about 13 days. The young will fledge in about 16 or 17 days
See About Doves & Pigeons: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.
Potential Problems:
These birds are hardy and healthy if provided with a good environment and a good diet. Avoid an environment that is wet, cool, and drafty.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Potential Problems for information on health.
Availability :
Though a game bird in some states, in other states it is protected as a songbird. Be sure to check your state and local restrictions before acquiring a Mourning Dove or collecting one from the wild.
Nesting Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Ringneck Doves are gentle birds that do not bite and are easily tamed. They can be handled by by adults and children alike!
The Ringneck Dove is the surely the most commonly kept dove in captivity and are kept by fanciers all over the world. Ringneck Doves are easy to care for and are hardy. Being good-natured social creatures they will do well in either a cage or in an aviary and can be kept as a single bird or as a pair.
Perhaps best known for its gentle temperament, a Ringneck Dove makes a great pet that is sweet natured and almost naturally tame. Give it a couple days to get used to its new home and family, and then you can begin letting it out to explore its surroundings. Though your pet may flutter about for a bit when first let out, it will quickly settle down and become quite content.
Until the 1950's only two colors of Ringneck Doves were available in the United States, a blond or fawn color and a white color known as the White Dove. Today the Ringneck Dove comes in over 40 colors with more being developed.
The Tangerine Ringneck Dove, like the one shown in the picture above, was the first color variation developed.
For more information about the care of Doves and Pigeons see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Doves & Pigeons.
There are seven species of 'ringnecks' and they are members of a group commonly called the Turtle Doves.
This domestic ringneck is classified as Streptopelia risoria. Although its true origin is unknown, the ringneck is generally thought to be descended from the African Ring Dove or African Collared Dove Streptopelia roseogrisea.
It had been kept for over 2000 years, brought to Europe in the second half of the sixteenth century from Sudan. Described by Linnaeus in 1756 as Columba risoria, it is only known to exist as a domesticated bird.
Description:
The Ringneck Dove is a small bird, about 12" from head to tail. They will live an average 10 - 15 years, though some may live over 25 years.
Originally whites and blonds (fawns) were the only two known colors of Ringneck Doves in the United States. In the 1960's breeders began experimenting and through selective breeding have developed a large number of varieties. Today there are over 40 color mutations/combinations acknowledged by Dove
Associations and new color variations are emerging constantly. The first dominant gene caused color mutation was the tangerine.
Care and feeding:
Suitable housing for a Ringneck Dove would be a large cockatiel cage along with some flight time outside the cage. A pair can be kept and bred in a cage as small as 2 feet square. Cages that are longer and wider are more important than tall cages, as these birds flutter around and do not climb. Males tend to be quarrelsome with other males so keep pairs housed alone.
They are quite hardy. If they are kept outdoors and are accustomed to cold weather, they can take below freezing temperatures for a short period of time.
Ringneck Doves are very clean birds and love to bathe. They will enjoy either a bath in a large bowl of water or a shower, a misting with a light spray of clean water.
A commercial dove and pigeon mix or a regular parakeet seed mix supplemented with greens rich in minerals, vitamins, and calcium is a fine diet. Ringneck Doves love treats. They not only enjoy their greens, but will also enjoy spray millet and such things as crumbled cornmeal and bread. Grit is essential as Ringneck Doves swallow their food whole, and it helps grind up the food. Oyster shell or even cuttlebone can be added for calcium and is important for egg layers.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Housing and About Doves & Pigeons: Care and Feeding for more information.
Social Behaviors:
They are good-natured social creatures that do well when kept in cages or in aviaries. They can be rather territorial however, and will need plenty of personal space. They can be easily tamed with very little effort. They form permanent pairs and mates do well if kept together.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Social Behaviors for more information on social behaviors of doves and pigeons.
Activities:
If kept in a cage, they should be let out daily for some free time to exercise. They are not known to be strong fliers and will be content to just flutter here and there and then will quickly settle down.
Breeding/Reproduction:
Ringneck Doves are easy to breed, but are not usually community breeders unless there is a lot of room. They will do best in their own cage and it can be relatively small. They are rather flimsy nest builders so it is best to provide them with an open nesting container.
They can be bred as early as 6 months of age. They will lay two eggs which hatch after about 14 days. The young will stay in the nest for about 4 weeks or so. The parents can lay a new clutch of eggs every six weeks but this is very unhealthy for the birds. It is recommended that they only produce 3 to 5 clutches a year. You can remove the nesting materials or separate the birds to control this.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.
Potential Problems:
These birds are hardy and healthy if provided with a good environment and a good diet. Avoid an environment that is wet, cool, and drafty.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Potential Problems for information on health.
Availability:
The Ringneck Doves are readily available. Usually available at pet stores, but can also be found through bird shows, bird clubs or breeders.
r
3- White Dove
Sacred White Dove ~ Java Dove
Family: Columbidae
When you think of the term 'dove' you think of the White Dove. The White Dove has been one of the most universal symbols of love and peace throughout history!
The White Dove, Sacred White Dove, or Java Dove is the most historically described dove from Noah through today. We often see it used today as an emblem in peace negotiations. We also commonly see it used in weddings to symbolize love.
Though it is very popular to use White Doves for what are called 'wedding releases', it is actually white homing pigeons that are used. White homing pigeons are very strong flyers, have a well developed homing instinct, and will return to their dovecote. The White Dove is not the same bird as the white homing pigeon. Though they are both white, the White Dove is a smaller bird. It does not fly straight for long distances but rather flutters about, and it does not have a highly developed homing instinct.
Another area where White Doves are commonly used is in magic acts. They are intelligent birds that can be taught simple tricks, and they are not afraid of being in a cloth handkerchief or a dark hat.
White Doves are very popular and an excellent bird for a beginner They are actually a white variety of the Ringneck Dove though a bit more expensive, and they have all the good points of the Ringneck Doves.They are very easy to care for and have a very sweet gentle nature. They will do well in either a cage or in an aviary and can be kept as a single bird or as a pair. Once a White Dove is comfortable with its home and its family, It can be handled by adults and children alike.
For more information about the care of Doves and Pigeons see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Doves & Pigeons.
Scientific Name:Streptopelia risoria var.
Distribution:
The White Dove, Sacred White Dove, or Java Dove are a white mutation of the Ringneck Dove. Like the other Ringnecks, they are only known to exist as a domesticated bird.
See Ringnecked Doves for more information on their history.
Description:
White Doves are small birds, about 12" from head to tail. They will live an average of 10 - 15 years, though some may live over 25 years.
In the 1800's & early 1900's the Ringneck Dove and the White Dove were considered to be two different species/races of dove due to the difference in their coloration. They were labeled the "Blond Ringneck" Steptopelia risoria and the "White Ringneck"Streptopelia alba. Many years elapsed before it was determined that these two birds were the same species, just two different color phases. These two colors were the only known colors in the United States until the 1950's.
Care and feeding:
Suitable housing for a White Dove would be a large cockatiel cage along with some flight time outside the cage. A pair can be kept and bred in a cage as small as 2 feet square. Cages that are longer and wider are more important than tall cages, as these birds flutter around and do not climb. Males tend to be quarrelsome with other males so keep pairs housed alone.
Like the Ringneck Dove they are quite hardy. If they are kept outdoors and are accustomed to cold weather, they can take below freezing temperatures for a short period of time.
White Doves are very clean birds and love to bathe. They will enjoy either a bath in a large bowl of water or a shower, a misting with a light spray of clean water.
A commercial dove and pigeon mix or a regular parakeet seed mix supplemented with greens rich in minerals, vitamins, and calcium is a fine diet. White Doves love treats. They not only enjoy their greens, but will also enjoy spray millet and such things as crumbled cornmeal and bread. Grit is essential as all Ringneck Doves swallow their food whole, and it helps grind up the food. Oyster shell or even cuttlebone can be added for calcium and is important for egg layers.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Housing and About Doves & Pigeons: Care and Feeding for more information.
Social Behaviors:
They are good-natured social creatures that do well when kept in cages or in aviaries. They can be rather territorial however, and will need plenty of personal space. They can be easily tamed with very little effort. They form permanent pairs and mates do well if kept together.
Activities:
If kept in a cage, they should be let out daily for some free time to exercise. They are not known to be strong fliers and will be content to just flutter here and there and then will quickly settle down.
Breeding/Reproduction:
White Doves are easy to breed, but are not usually community breeders unless there is a lot of room. They will do best in their own cage and it can be relatively small. They are rather flimsy nest builders so it is best to provide them with an open nesting container.
They can be bred as early as 6 months of age. They will lay two eggs which hatch after about 14 days. The young will stay in the nest for about 4 weeks or so. The parents can lay a new clutch of eggs every six weeks but this is very unhealthy for the birds. It is recommended that they only produce 3 to 5 clutches a year. You can remove the nesting materials or separate the birds to control this.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.
Potential Problems:
These birds are hardy and healthy if provided with a good environment and a good diet. Avoid an environment that is wet, cool, and drafty.
See About Doves & Pigeons: Potential Problems for information on health.
Availability:
White Doves are readily available. Usually available at pet stores, but can also be found through bird shows, bird clubs or breeders.
- African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea)
- African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens)
- Bar Shoulder Dove / Bar-shouldered Copper Neck Dove (Geopelia humeralis)
- Beautiful Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus pulchellus)
- Black-naped Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus melanospila)
- Blue Ground Dove (Claravis pretiosa)
- Bronzewing Dove
-Caribbean Doves(Leptotila jamaicensis)
-Cassin's Doves
-Celebes Quail Doves / Celebes Yellow-breasted Doves
-Collared Doves
-Common Ground Doves - Columbina passerina
-Common Mexican Ground Doves
-Crested Quail Doves
-Crimson-crowned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus porphyraceus)
-Diamond Doves (Geopelia cuneata)
-Eared Dove (Zenaida auriculata)
-Emerald Doves (Chalcophaps indica)
-Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)
-European Wood Pigeon
-Galápagos Doves (Zenaida galapagoensis)
-Greenwing Doves
-Grenada Dove : (Leptotila wellsi): This medium-sized New World tropical dove is endemic to the island of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles, and its current population is estimated at 96. This dove is classified as critically endangered by BirdLife International.
- Grey - fronted Doves (Leptotila rufaxilla)
- Grey-headed Doves (Leptotila plumbeiceps)
- Half-collared Doves aka Ring-Necked Dove or Cape Turtle Dove and the Half-Collared Dove
- Indian Ring-neck Doves
- Jobi Dove
- Key West Quail-Doves (Geotrygon chrysia)
- Laughing Doves (Streptopelia senegalensis)
-Laceneck / Chinese-spotted Doves
- Luzon Bleeding Heart Dove (Gallicolumba luzonica)
- Mindoro Bleeding-heart (Gallicolumba platenae) is bird native to the Philippines. It is an endangered species.
- Mountain Witch Dove / Crested Quail Dove
- Mourning Dove aka Upland Dove, Wood Dove (unrelated to the Wood Dove genus Turtur from Africa)
- Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)
- Negros Bleeding-heart Doves (Gallicolumba keayi)
- Oriental Turtle-Doves (Streptopelia orientalis)
- Pacific Dove (Z. meloda) or West Peruvian Dove
- Peaceful Dove (Geopelia striata)
- Purple-winged Ground Dove (Claravis godefrida): The Purple-winged Ground Dove is critically endangered and, native to portions of South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.Red-bellied Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus greyii)
- Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)
Red Turtle Dove, also known as the Red Collared Dove, is a small pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in the tropics in South Asia.
- Ringed Turtle Dove
- Ruddy Ground Doves (Columbina talpacoti)
- Ruddy Quail Dove (Geotrygon montana)
- Senegal Turtle Dove / Palm Dove
- Streptopelia Dove
- Sorocco Doves (Zenaida graysoni)
- Spotted Doves (Streptopelia chinensis)
- Tambourine Dove (African Wood Doves)
- Tanna Ground Dove (Gallicolumba ferruginea), also known as Forster's Dove of Tanna
- Thick-billed Ground Dove (Gallicolumba salamonis)
- Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
- Vinaceous Dove (Streptopelia vinacea)
- Whistling Dove (Ptilinopus layardi)
- White-tipped Doves (Leptotila verreauxi)
- White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
- Wood Doves (Genus: Turtur native to Sub-Saharan Africa - includes 5 species)
Ptilinopus melanospila
Brown Cuckoo Dove
Columbina passerina
Columbina inca
Dust Control:
If your doves are caged inside your home, it is important to know that they produce a fine dust that coats their feathers. Doves use the dust to preen their feathers where it becomes airborne with movement of their wings. This dust can get into your furniture, appliances and can irritate the lungs. An ionizer placed near the cage, similar to the ones sold on "The Sharper Image" is a tremendous benefit to reducing dust in the air. A HEPA air filtration unit would also be a good investment as would a HEPA filter for your forced air heating system but change your filters weekly. A cold water humidifier will also help keep the dust down in the winter. Be sure that the filtration systems do not blow directly on the birds or create a draft. Bathing the bird will also reduce the dust. If you need to isolate the dust, a sheet of polyurethane plastic stretched tightly over the door frame, attached with adhesive velcro strips makes a great dust barrier. The velcro strips allow you to re-enter and reseal the room upon exiting. Even a bed sheet tacked over the door will help. Make sure that any option used does not allow air to escape at the bottom.
Keep the birdcages clean to prevent bacteria from dried feces becoming airborne. Keep the cage paper changed weekly.
For more information, see the allergy section.
Warning! The information on how to seal a door is for demonstration purposes. Adhesive and tacks will probably damage the paint or wood on your door frame. If you elect to try these dust control measures, you assume all responsibility for any damages to your home.
Zenaida galapagoensis
Fruit Pigeon / Fruit Doves (Ptilinopus):
Mariana Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus roseicapilla), Jambu Fruit Doves (Ptilinopus jambu), Pink-headed Fruit Dove, Pink-necked Fruit Dove, Temminck's Fruit Pigeon, Superb Fruit Dove, Temminck's Fruit Dove, Pink-headed or necked Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Yellow-breasted Fruit Dove
Victoria Crowned Pigeon (Goura victoria) :
Distribution
Northern New Guinea and surrounding islands.
Habitat
Lowland swamp forests.
Diet
Fallen fruit (particularly figs), seeds, and insects.
Breeding
Victoria Crowned Pigeons breed during New Guinea's dry season (December to late-May). The male courts the female by bowing before her, wagging his fanned tail and "booming" (the loud, hollow whoom-whoom-whoom-whoomsound you may sometimes hear reverberating throughout our Tropical Rainforest). He brings her sticks, which she weaves into a nest for her single egg. Incubation lasts about 30 days, with both parents caring for the chick for another 13 weeks after it hatches. Like other pigeons, Victoria Crowned Pigeons produce a nutritious "crop milk" that is all they feed the chick for the first few days of its life.
Status
Vulnerable
At the Aviary
See "William" and "Mary" the Victoria Crowned Pigeons in our Tropical Rainforest exhibit.
FUN FACT:
The Victoria Crowned Pigeon is the largest species of pigeon in the world.
Named for the British Monarch Queen Victoria, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon is without doubt a royal bird. Its dusty blue-grey feathers may remind one of the pigeons found on any city street, but the Crowned Pigeon's elegant blue lace crest, scarlet eyes, and rakish black mask are unlike anything you'll find pecking around in the city park. Add in the fact that this largest of all pigeons is nearly the size of a turkey, and you know you're seeing something special.
Victoria Crowned Pigeons like to be in pairs or small groups, wandering the forests of New Guinea in search of the seeds and fallen fruits that make up most of their diet. Males will sometimes spar with each other during the breeding season -- flaring their wings and puffing up their chests to look larger and more impressive for the females -- but they tend to live peacefully together the rest of the year. Groups of Crowned Pigeons spend most of their time on the ground, only flying up into the branches of trees when startled, or when they want somewhere safe to roose overnight.
In many ways, the Victoria Crowned Pigeon is the closest 21st Century humans will ever come to another famous species of pigeon, the Dodo. Dodos were also huge, ground-dwelling pigeons (larger even than the Victoria Crowned Pigeon), found only on a single island and completely unable to fly. Hunting by humans and the introduction of non-native predators drove the Dodo to extinction in less than 100 years. Today, hunting and habitat destruction has already extirpated the Victoria Crowned Pigeon from may of its traditional territories in New Guinea. And the population continues to fall. There are only an estimated 1,500 - 7,000 individual Victoria Crowned Pigeons remaining in the wild.
Dove Care :
courtesy to : www. pet-doves.com/petdoves/dovebasics .com
- New Dove:
It is always a good idea to quarantine a new pet when you first bring it home. Keep stress to a minimum. The new bird should be placed in a warm, quiet area with fresh food and water. Let your new pet get used to its new surroundings before subjecting the dove to handling, noise or stress. Be sure to use good hygiene by washing thoroughly after each handling of the bird or cage. Most birds carry worm eggs in their defecations. A health check up & lab tests by a veterinarian is strongly suggested for any new pet you bring into your home. Check your yellow pages or local pet stores to find a vet which is experienced in avian medicine. If you have other birds in your home, be sure to quarantine your new arrival for about 3 weeks. Look for signs of illness or problems with your new pet. If you have heeded the advice of having your new pet examined by an avian vet, be sure to write down & follow any advice that they provide.
Use both hands when handling the bird. They are stronger than they look. They will rapidly shrug their wings and kick with their feet with quick, unexpected and abrupt attempts. Go to the Perches and Supplies on this page for information on items you will need for your new bird.
Perches:
Doves are not fond of toys or swings like a parakeet. Save your money. They are fairly sedentary and spend most of their time standing on the perch and eating. It is important that you provide the appropriate perching alternatives for the doves. For sleeping and mating, they need a stable flat surface wide enough for the Dove to stand flat footed. A 2 inch by 1/2 inch thick board, cut to the same length as the perches that came with the cage makes a good flat perch. It will need to be notched appropriately to snugly fit the cage bars. For traction & easy cleaning, two long, clear, adhesive bathtub anti-slip strips are a good choice. You can also add round perches so the dove can exercise its feet and choose where it wishes to stand.
To temporarily improvise for a flat perch, you can place two or three round perches side by side to allow flat foot standing. Don't use sandpaper perch covers. The birds will pick at them for grit. Sandpaper contains aluminum oxide and is not safe for ingestion. A 3/4 inch diameter cloth rope perch and a wooden perch at different levels and locations in the cage provide the doves with alternative choices for better health for their feet. The wooden round perches should not be smaller than 1/2" diameter or larger than 3/4".
Warning! The information on how to make a flat perch is for demonstration purposes. If you choose to make your own flat perch, you assume full responsibility for any injuries or damages incurred in the process.
Temperature:
Do not take your dove outside into the sunlight. If your dove has access to sunlight, they will stretch out in it... however, they get overheated very quickly and they must be able to get away from the sun into the shade and not have to wait for someone. Those few seconds are all it will take for them to die a very horrible death. How would you like to be caged out in the direct sunlight??
Keep your Doves away from drafts and chilly air. They quickly acclimate to room temperatures. If you have a separate room for the birds, it is a good idea to close the duct to your forced air heating and cooling system. This will keep the birds from being chilled by the air conditioning and it will reduce dust from being stirred up and cycled throughout the house. Do not allow the temperature to drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. A portable electric heater which circulates a sealed fluid and resembles the old style water radiators is a great way to keep the birds warm. There is a photo of one on the aviaries page. These cost less than $40 at any WalMart or Lowes. Keep it away from the cage by at least a foot and away from furnishings and draperies. Do not use extension cords or bypass a grounded prong on the electrical outlet. Do not overload the breaker or outlet. The room should not be more than 75 degrees Fahrenheit unless you have a sick bird. Do not use any other kind of portable heater. The others are too dangerous and could cause serious damage or harm to your house and family.
Sunshine entering the room through windows will quickly heat up a room to temperatures that can kill a bird and other pets. Be sure to turn off any portable heater if the room is being warmed by the sun. Adjust your blinds accordingly to reduce overheating and overexposure. If you allow your bird to sit in the sun, it is imperative that the bird have shade where it can move into when it becomes too hot and fresh water, or you may return to find a dead bird. Remember that the sun will continue to change direction throughout the course of the day.
Your bird will hold its folded wings away from the body when it is too hot. It will also start panting heavily and need plenty of drinking water. Find a way to reduce the heat and circulate the air when the bird is overheated.
When your Dove is cold, it will fluff the feathers up like a puffed ball in order to insulate them from the cold. Shivering helps the bird to fluff the feathers and keep warm. Try to moderate the temperature accordingly. A sheet or light blanket over the cage will help keep the birds warm and free from drafts. Birds will also fluff their feathers when sleeping and when ill. Avoid any sudden changes of temperature.
Flat perch
Cold
Sunbathing by stretching a wing
Bath towel
Bathing:
The way to get a dove to bath in water is to provide a dish of water at least 2 inches deep... not more than 3 inches. The water should be toasty warm like you would have for your own bath.... NOT lukewarm. They like it almost hot even if the weather is hot outside. Their normal body temperature is between 103-106 so warm water to you is cold to them.
My outdoor aviary doves do enjoy a good bath in a large shallow Pyrex casserole dish when the temperature outside or in the room is 75 degrees or more as long as the water is clean. They wont get into dirty water. Bathing may be an issue of need to eradicate vermin from the feathers that determines whether they will choose to bathe. It is important for their health to be periodically bathed. You can try setting a pie, cake or casserole pan or dish the bottom of the cage. Especially if you see them trying to bathe in the water dish. When they hold one wing in the air, they are trying to sun themselves... even if the sun is not shining on them.
Warning!!! Not many people can properly bathe & dry their own bird. If done improperly, you can kill the bird or cause great damage to the feathers. This process is not recommended unless you really know what you are doing. You assume full responsibility for your bird's welfare if you try to give it a bath. This information is for demonstration purposes and is not a recommendation for you to attempt to bathe your bird. This is only how I bathe my own birds. If you attempt to bathe your own birds, then you are proceeding solely at your own risk.
Within the first week of bringing the new bird home and twice a month thereafter, I usually give them a bath in the sink. The bathroom temperature is no less than 72 if not warmer and the doors are closed to prevent drafts and escapes. I never have a fan or vent turned on in the bathroom because an escaping bird could end up caught in the blades. I keep all objects away form the sink. The bird may struggle to escape and I do not want anything falling into the water.
The water is toasty warm like your own bath water but not hot enough to cause discomfort to the bird. They will not like it if the water is too cool. Lukewarm is too cool. The water is no more than 3 inches deep. The bird is never near the running water where it could be burned. I wait until the sink is filled before adding the bird. After gently wetting the Dove, I use Johnson's No More Tears baby shampoo to gently clean the feathers. I always keep one hand on the bird at all times to maintain control. I usually shampoo and rinse twice. This will help to remove any mites, feather dust and defecation from the feathers. I also make sure to clean the feet. Bathing a dove requires extreme gentility. Feathers should not be scrubbed or rubbed in the wrong direction. Pin feathers on the back, belly and under the wings will come out easily if you are not careful. The feathers on the back tend to mat down. The shampoo has to be kept out of their eyes so I am careful when washing the face and head. The water should never be allowed to get into the birds mouth or nose. I am careful to rinse all of the shampoo from their feathers. If their eyes are irritated, I use a drop of ophthalmologic tear replacement liquid which not medicated like Visine.
After the bath, I then gently towel dry and keep warm for 15 minutes. The more water that can be soaked out of their feathers, the easier it is to dry them. It is imperative that the bird is not subjected to a chill or a draft. After soaking up the water from the feathers, I use a blow dryer on the lowest heat and lowest fan setting. Medium is too hot and the bird will die from overheating in just a few minutes if you overdo it.
Warning!! If the bird has its mouth open or starts gasping, IMMEDIATELY STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!! If you see the bird taking deep gasps, you have less than 30 seconds to a minute to stop what you are doing and calm the Dove before it dies. This is the sign of the final gasps before death!
I regulate the blow dryer at a warm temperature and keep my hand on the dove where I am blowing to ensure that it does not feel hot on my hand. I keep the blow dryer at least 8 to 10 inches away from the bird. I have a cooling trigger on the handle that I can rapidly alternate between the settings. I try to separate the feathers while blow drying to make it easier to dry but extreme caution is required to avoid dislodging the pin feathers on the back above the tail which are not deeply anchored. Some of my doves actually love the blow dryer and will try to move toward the warm air. The bird will shiver and shudder to fluff up and separate the feathers. This is important to drying the feathers. I keep the dryer air away from the face and eyes. The force of warm air will kill the bird after just a minute. I dry the head from behind the head and do it in alternating short spurts. The face, underbelly, rear and under the wings are the most sensitive to heat and where the most precaution must be taken to keep the dryer on a mild setting. After the feathers are thoroughly dry, I snuggle the bird in a dry towel and hold it for a while to keep it warm. The bird must be kept from drafts and in a warm location for the next 8 - 12 hours following a bath. Even if the bath was administered by the bird rather than a human.
Bathing
Other Birds:
Never place your pet Dove into a cage with other types of birds. A Dove is defenseless against most other birds. A Dove's bill is soft and incapable of breaking through the shell on a seed, much less defending against attack. Hook-billed birds such as parakeets and parrots can rapidly kill a dove even if the hook-bill is smaller than the Dove. Doves have paper thin skin which will tear open with the slightest injury.
Doves prefer their privacy and the company of other Doves. Although in the wild they peacefully co-exist with other wild birds, Doves often become the prey of larger birds. Their only defenses to protect their nests is to fluff up their feathers to appear larger, and raise their wings as shields. The only damage they can inflict with their soft bills is to pull out feathers of the attacker and poke at the eyes.
When placing a dove into a cage with other doves, it is imperative to watch carefully for doves picking at or fighting with other doves. Males frequently do not get along with other males in a cage or in a large aviary, especially during mating season which is about 9 months out of the year (sometimes all year in captivity.) Even in a large aviary, the battles between the males for domination have the males relentlessly pursuing the weaker males. The best combination for raising Doves is to allow the doves to pair and provide their own roomy cages where they can enjoy their privacy with a mate. Mating is not a definite indicator that you have a male and female combination. It is not uncommon for doves to pair and mate with their own sex. A lone dove will become attached to the owner or an inanimate object for a mate. You will probably not get to hear the melodic cooing of mating season if you have a lone Dove and the lone female may not lay any eggs. A lone dove will need you to pet and hold them for at least 30 minutes each day. For more information on gender interaction, go to the section on Gender Selection.
Males boxing
Defensive
Other Pets:
Other Pets present a deadly threat to Doves. Cats, Dogs, Snakes, you name it. Doves are on the bottom rung of the food chain with no effective defenses. Precautions should be taken to ensure the safety of your Doves. Their cage must be strong enough to prevent being broken into. A large dog can tear through the bars on some cages. The cage doors should not loosely slide open where a cat could get into the cage should it be knocked over. Suspend the cage from a ceiling hook if necessary. If you elect to use a ceiling hook, be sure that the hook can support the weight and is properly installed. Many cages come with stands or you can purchase a stand for your cage. A cage sitting on a table top provides ideal access for your kitty to have access to your birdcage.
If you have a snake or other vermin that might attack your Dove, be sure that your other creatures cannot fit between the bars on the bird cage. Wrap the cage with window screen if necessary to protect your bird from escapees which might be looking for a meal. No matter how secure or how well behaved you believe your other pets to be, never take your bird's safety for granted. For more information on cages, go to the cage selection section.
Children:
If you are buying a bird for your child, there is no better selection than a Dove. Doves will not bite or screech. At most, they might mildly scratch with their claws on their feet if the Dove is struggling to get away. Keep your Dove's feet and perches clean to prevent infection from scratches. The points of the claws can be softened with a couple strokes from an emery file. Not too deep which would cause bleeding.
Your child should be old enough and mature enough to handle and care for a pet. It takes responsibility and dependability for a child to successfully raise a pet bird. A Dove cannot be squeezed too tightly. Due to the air sac construction, it will die in minutes from improper to too tight handling. Depending on your child's maturity, I would not recommend giving a child under 8 the responsibility for raising a bird as their own pet. Even at 8 or older, it will depend on the child's personality, behavior, dependability and ability to assume responsibility for caring for a pet Dove. Dove's live for 12 to 20 years in captivity so be sure that the child will not tire of the pet. It is not a decision that should be made spontaneously. It is up to the parent to teach their children how to handle, care for and interact with a pet bird. Teach them how to recognize and avoid breaking a blood feather. It does not take much bleeding to kill a bird. Parental supervision is a must. A Dove cannot live long without fresh water and food. Keep an eye out for bruising, broken feathers, lethargy, trembling, irregular stools, defensive reaction of raising the wings or panicking when approached may be signs that the Dove is not being treated well.
Children can be brutal to small animals and frequently endanger or kill small pets when out of your sight. It only takes once to kill or cause irreparable damage to a pet. Simple precautions can avoid a catastrophe. A small luggage lock through the door and any feed dish doors large enough for a child to reach through can provide safety for your Dove and peace of mind. If you use a key lock, it only takes once for them to discover where you keep the key. Combination luggage locks are the best solution.
Most important is teaching your children proper hygiene when handling a bird. They should wash their hands and scrub their nails before and after each handling of a bird, feeding dishes or cage items. Neither the Birds or their hands should be placed near the mouth to prevent transfer of bacteria or parasites. For more information go to the Hygieneand health sections.
Hazards:
Many hidden dangers lurk in your home. It is not a wise idea to allow your bird to fly freely through the house. An isolated room where potential hazards have been removed would be a better choice for your bird to fly. Anytime your bird is out of its cage, there is a chance that it could get loose and encounter some of these hazards. (PS: They also poop when they fly.)
Some of the hazards to birds include:
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open water sources (toilets, bathtubs, sinks)
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Cooking (Hot stove, pans, boiling water, hot oil)
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Window glass (flying into the glass)
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Fragile vases that might fall and shatter
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Mirrors
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Open doors
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Portable heaters
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Fireplace
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Ceiling fans
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Poisons
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Getting trapped behind an appliance
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Other Pets
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Escaping through an open door
Recommended Supplies:
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For a new bird you will need an appropriate cage. The type, size and shape of the cage is imperative. Go to the Cage selection section for more information.
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You will need perches to fit the cage. The cage should come with perches and feeding dishes. A rope perch and a flat perch (which is not available in stores.) See section on Perches.
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It will be up to your particular type of cage and number of birds to determine if you need more dishes. If the cage dishes are higher than the flat perch, you would need to obtain other dishes that can be mounted at or below perch level. (see Mating for more detailed information).
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You will need a water dish. Doves prefer a light colored water dish over a dark one.
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You will need a food dish
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A small dish (half dollar size) should be used for grit.
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Another small dish for chopped fruit & vegetables.
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A clip for millet
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A nesting cup, nest and nest material (see section on nesting).
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Shelled seeds. Dove mix, shelled sunflower seeds, canary mix. Do not buy parrot food or parakeet food. The Dove's bill is too soft to break the hulls. (see section on feeding)
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Hi Calcium Grit. (crushed oyster shell)
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Millet (they like both large and small)
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Paper for cage bottom
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A large net (for catching escapees)
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Mite cage protection disk to hang on cage if needed
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First aid supplies (See health section for special supply needs)
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Eye dropper (medicine administration)
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Hydrogen peroxide (first aid for bleeding)
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Tweezers (first aid)
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Styptic pen or powder (first aid for bleeding)
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Vitamins for food or water
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Neosporin
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Q-tips (cotton swabs)
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If you can learn how to give injections and get Baytril from the vet, it it the number one thing that will save a dove from infections..... but you have to know what you are doing. This is not something for a novice.
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Bird Activities:
Birds need certain activities for their well-being.
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Each day the Dove needs to stretch their wings and legs like a ballerina. Hopefully, their cage will be large enough for this daily exercise.
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A healthy bird will preen every day. Preening involves smoothing the feathers, fluffing, cleaning wax from new feathers, removing bad feathers. Preening is different from itching and picking at feathers. It takes experience to recognize the difference.
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Doves love to sun themselves. If they are permitted a couple hours of access to the sun, they will spread their wings high or to the side to catch the warm sun rays. It is important that they have access to move into the shade as they prefer and available water. This might be a good time to try the pan of toasty warm water to give them the option to bathe on their own.
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At least once a week, it would be nice if your Dove had an opportunity to fly around the room. Use an isolated room with the hazards removed and where you can reach them if they should land high....which is the first place they will look for. Even the bathroom with the stool lid closed and the hazards removed might suit the purpose. Doves prefer perching to flying so they will likely only fly around the room once or twice before landing. Nevertheless, the exercise is good for them as long as they do not become injured. You will need a long stick or broom handle to prod them off of high objects such as curtain rods. Never strike the bird. Their bones are fragile like toothpicks.
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If you have a mated pair of Doves and the female is in the nest flicking her wings and the male is bowing and cooing, this is the time to put small, dried 4 inch sticks from a bush about the thickness of a #8 nail or 1/3 the thickness of a pencil in the bottom of the cage. Get at least 20 sticks. The male will fetch them from the bottom of the cage and give them to the female in the nest. A little straw or hay in a bag sold at the pet store for ferrets will also be used by the birds. They will make an ugly messy of sticks, but the birds will love it because they built it together. The female may lay eggs a few days later.
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Anytime a dove gets bored, they love to play with hay and alfalfa in their cages.
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Personal attention should be part of the birds day. At least once a day, pick them up and pet them for at least a half hour.
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A special treat of finely chopped vegetables, sprouts, shelled snow peas or fruit are good for the Doves.
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A full night of undisturbed sleep in darkness is essential for the doves health.
Socializing
Nest building
Tired of your Dove?
Doves in captivity tend to live about 12 years or up to 20 in some cases. If you get tired of your new pet, please do not release it into the wild or leave it at an animal shelter. Use the classifieds, this website or local veterinarians to advertise your pet and find it a good home. Be careful not to give it to someone who will shoot it for sport or use it for food or dove releases. Doves have an extremely high mortality rate in the wild. A pet dove does not have a chance in the weather fending for food and shelter. They are sitting ducks for predators. White doves have even less of a chance in the sun and weather and they stand out against the green grass and trees where predators, hawks and cats can easily spot them.. Please find a home for your dove. Surely some child at the local school would love to have your bird, but do not turn the bird loose or send it to the animal shelter.
Dove birds diseases:
Normally dove have same pigeons dieses if you want to know more please click on :
www.beautyofbirds.com/pigeonassociateddiseases .com
What Is a Dove Like as a Pet? | Pet Bird
How to Wash a Dove or How to Wash a Pigeon
The story of my white dove Jacky