Photo: Lip Kee from Singapore, Republic of Singapore / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Spotted Dove
Spilopelia chinensis
Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) — Pigeons & Doves of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) is a member of the Columbidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 159 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 Spilopelia
- Species chinensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 159 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Columbidae
- Order
- Columbiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spotted Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Spotted Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) belongs to the Columbidae family of the order Columbiformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 159 g, with a wing length of about 13.9 cm and a tail of around 12.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 7.4 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spotted Dove?
The Spotted Dove is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 159 g.
Where does the Spotted Dove live?
The Spotted Dove is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Spotted Dove belong to?
The Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) belongs to the Columbidae family, in the order Columbiformes.
What does the Spotted Dove eat?
The Spotted Dove is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Spotted Dove migrate?
The Spotted Dove is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Spotted 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 Spotted Dove make?
1 real field recording of the Spotted 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 Spotted Dove's range?
The Spotted Dove has a mapped global range of about 7.4 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.