Cape turtle dove
Scientific name: Streptopelia capicola
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Small dove with grey-brown upperparts and vinous-pink breast and head. Males show more saturated colouring than females, with a distinctive dark eye-stripe and blue-grey orbital ring.
Size and weight
Males 20–22 cm, 110–180 g; females slightly smaller at 18–20 cm, 100–160 g.
Habitat
Open and semi-open woodland, savanna, and cultivated areas with scattered trees. Found from sea level to 2,000 m elevation.
Distribution
Southern and East Africa from South Africa through Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Tanzania. Prefers open ground with accessible seed sources.
Diet
Seeds from grasses and forbs, supplemented by small invertebrates; preference shifts to available seed crops seasonally.
Behaviour
Diurnal and crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. Pairs or small flocks; relatively sedentary but nomadic in response to seed availability.
Hunting tips
Look for birds roosting on low branches at dusk or foraging on bare ground near water. Approach slowly from downwind using available cover; these doves flush easily but often circle back. Early morning and late afternoon provide the most productive stalking opportunities.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 8 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.