Spotted dove
The spotted dove is a medium-sized dove native to Asia, distinguished by a black-and-white spotted patch on each side of its neck.
Columbidae: The bird family comprising pigeons and doves, including more than 300 living species. The spotted dove belongs to this family of stout-bodied, seed-eating birds.
Bird vocalization: Sound produced by birds for communication, including songs, calls, and alarm notes. Spotted doves use repeated cooing calls in communication and courtship.
Spilopelia chinensis: A dove species native to Asia, identified by a distinctive black collar patterned with pale spots. It is the spotted dove’s scientific name, though taxonomic treatments have varied.
Invasive species: A non-native organism whose establishment and spread cause ecological, economic, or other harm. Introduced spotted dove populations are considered invasive in parts of their expanded range.
Streptopelia: A genus of doves native mainly to Africa and Asia, including the spotted dove. The spotted dove is classified in this genus alongside several close relatives.
Granivory: A feeding strategy in which animals eat seeds or grains as a substantial part of their diet. Seeds and grains form a major part of the spotted dove’s food.
Eurasian collared dove: A pale gray-brown dove with a narrow black collar, native to Europe and Asia and widely introduced elsewhere. It shares parts of the spotted dove’s range and can be compared by its unspotted collar.
Australia: A country and continent whose ecosystems include many introduced animal species. Introduced spotted doves have established populations in parts of eastern Australia.
Bird: A warm-blooded vertebrate with feathers, a beak, and forelimbs adapted as wings. Its feathers, wings, and beak are shared defining features of birds.
Courtship display: A behavior performed during mate attraction that can communicate readiness or quality. Displays and calls accompany pair formation in spotted doves.