Common Name |
Diamond Dove |
Latin Name |
Geopelia cuneata |
Average Lifespan |
10 Years |
Average Length |
7 - 8 Inches |
Average Weight |
45 Grams |
Song Type |
Cooing |
Noise Level & Vocalization
The calls sound mournful, slow and have a falsetto quality to them. Two calls consist of two long coos followed by a pause and then a long, short and long coo.
Physical Features
Regardless of the gender, they have white spots and black edges on their wings, orange eyes and red eye-rings. The genders look similar except for the female's eye ring, which is less vivid and has more of a brown colour to the plumage. The male's head, neck, and breast are light blue-grey. The bill is a dark grey colour. The abdomen is a creamy colour while the back and tail is a brown-grey colour. The legs and feet are pink. The juveniles have a light grey bill; the iris and eye ring is fawn in colour; the feet and legs are grey; the breast is grey and they do not possess any white spots on their wings.
Pet Profile
Single diamond doves can bond to humans if acquired when relatively young, but this requires a commitment of time and attention from the owner because they require months or years to tame and will then require significant companionship time with their owner, much like a parrot. Once tamed, the dove is a sweet and gentle pet, who greets its owner with happy coos and will perch on the finger or shoulder. They will also preen their owner with rapid light pecks, and accept being stroked gently in return. Care must be taken to avoid the bird thinking of its owner as a mate, as this leads to egg-laying and excessive dependence on its owner's companionship, and is stressful to the bird. This can be avoided by not being affectionate with the bird while it is engaging in nesting or display behaviors.
Diet
Diamond doves should be encouraged to eat a variety of greens and vegetables in addition to their seed diets. They swallow seeds whole and should be given access to grit to help digest the seeds.
Care
In winter, the birds suffer in cold and should not be placed near drafts; a heating pad or basking rock (such as those sold in pet stores for lizards) can be used as a supplemental heat source and is greatly enjoyed by many diamond doves.
Housing
They spend a considerable amount of time on the ground and require a wide area to walk around. Wire-bottomed cages are not desirable; also, the floor of the cage should be kept clean since they will be walking on it. The cage should also contain perches spaced widely enough for the bird to fly safely.
Breeding Information
Age of Maturity |
1 Year |
Breeding Aviculture |
Common |
Average Clutch Size |
2 Eggs |
Nest Box |
Open Cup Nest |
Breeding Life |
5 - 7 |
Diamond doves can be kept and bred well in captivity and some lines have been bred for so many generations as to be considered domesticated. Diamond doves build nests in open scoops and will appreciate open-topped nest baskets. They will nest in whatever they find, however, including the seed dish. The mating behavior begins with a repeated call, usually by the male but sometimes by a female if kept singly. The male will display his tail feathers by dipping his head low and raising his tail, spreading the long feathers like a fan towards the desired female while uttering a two-note coo. The pair will stay together for long periods, greeting each other with low coos and vibrating their wings, or symbolically preening each other with rapid light pecks.
Generally, they must live in pairs or flocks, as their need for companionship is high.
Wild Status
Decreasing - Least Concern