Blue-headed Wood Dove
Turtur brehmeri
Blue-headed Wood Dove (Turtur brehmeri) — Pigeons & Doves of Africa.
The Blue-headed Wood Dove (Turtur brehmeri) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 116 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Columbiformes
- Family Columbidae Pigeons, Doves
- Genus Turtur
- Species brehmeri
Quick facts
- Weight
- 116 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Blue-headed Wood Dove is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Blue-headed Wood Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Blue-headed Wood Dove (Turtur brehmeri) is a member of the Columbidae family, within the order Columbiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, c.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 116 g, with a wing length of about 12.6 cm and a tail of around 10.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Blue-headed Wood Dove?
The Blue-headed Wood Dove is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 116 g.
Where does the Blue-headed Wood Dove live?
The Blue-headed Wood Dove is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, c, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Blue-headed Wood Dove belong to?
The Blue-headed Wood Dove (Turtur brehmeri) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Blue-headed Wood Dove eat?
The Blue-headed Wood Dove is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Blue-headed Wood Dove migrate?
The Blue-headed Wood Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Blue-headed Wood Dove endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Blue-headed Wood Dove make?
1 real field recording of the Blue-headed Wood Dove — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Blue-headed Wood Dove's range?
The Blue-headed Wood Dove has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Columbidae
A field guide to the Columbidae family — 352 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.