Flying beauties of Himachal Pradesh

Spotted dove(about 30cm) is a long tailed slim bird with white s potted, pinkish and grey upperparts. The head and underparts are pinkish with a greyish shade on the face and lower portion of the belly. Both the sexes are similar and the black and white patchy (chess board type) band on the hind neck is the unique distinguishing feature of the bird. The legs are reddish in colour. It is quite common in open well wooded forests,cultivations and near habitations as well. Often seen alone or in pairs the spotted dove has got a very swift and strong flight like other doves.

T he oriental turtle dove is mainly found in higher altitudes. It breeds up to a height of about 4000 meters above sea level and is found in open forests especially near agricultural fields. Like all pigeons and doves it lays two eggs in a nest made up of twigs. The birds in the extreme northern latitudes migrate south during winters whereas those breeding in southern latitudes are mostly residents.