Photo: tcager / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lemon Dove
Aplopelia larvata
Lemon Dove (Aplopelia larvata) — Pigeons & Doves of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lemon Dove (Aplopelia larvata) is a member of the Columbidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 155 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 Aplopelia
- Species larvata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 155 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lemon Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Lemon Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lemon Dove (Aplopelia larvata) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family, part of the order Columbiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 155 g, with a wing length of about 14.3 cm and a tail of around 9.3 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 2.6 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lemon Dove?
The Lemon Dove is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 155 g.
Where does the Lemon Dove live?
The Lemon Dove is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Lemon Dove belong to?
The Lemon Dove (Aplopelia larvata) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Lemon Dove eat?
The Lemon Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Lemon Dove migrate?
The Lemon Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lemon 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.
How large is the Lemon Dove's range?
The Lemon Dove has a mapped global range of about 2.6 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.