Zebra Dove

The zebra dove is a small, slim dove 20–23 cm long with a long narrow tail. Brownish-grey upperparts and pale underparts are crossed by dense black barring on the neck, breast and flanks; the face is blue-grey and the tail shows white edges and tips. Both sexes look similar. Its gentle, evenly spaced staccato coo is one of the most familiar sounds in settled lowlands (Wikipedia, general species account).

Native to Southeast Asia, it thrives in open scrub, farmland, gardens and urban areas and has been introduced to many tropical islands. Birds usually forage alone or in pairs on bare ground and short grass, taking small grass and weed seeds and occasional insects. The nest is a light platform of twigs in a shrub or tree. Both parents incubate one or two white eggs for about 13–18 days and tend the young (Wikipedia, general species account).