
The Emerald Dove is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird found in tropical southern Asia which includes India. The Emerald Dove is also called Green Dove and Green winged pigeon. It has a number of subspecies.
The Emerald Dove is a sturdy, medium sized pigeon with a length of twenty three to twenty eight centimeters in length. The back and the wings of the bird are bright emerald green in colour. The flight feathers and tail are blackish and the broad black and white bars show on the lower back when the bird is flying. The head and the lower parts of the body are dark vinous pink, which lightens to a grayish colour on the lower side. The eyes are dark brown in colour; the bill is bright red and the legs. The male has a white spot on the edge of the shoulders and a grey crown while the female does not have any such spots. The female species have a more brownish complexion along with a grey mark on the shoulder. The young birds are more like the females but they have brown scallops on their body the feathers of the wing.
The flight of the Emerald Dove is fast and direct with the regular beats accompanied with sharp flick of the wings, which are common in pigeons. It often takes low flights between the patches of dense forests. When they are disturbed they frequently walk than fly.
When they fly they display a buff under wing and a chestnut colour of their flight feathers.
Emerald Doves are not gregarious and they occur singly, in pairs and sometimes in small groups. They are quite terrestrial and survive on seeds, fruits and a wide variety of plants. They can be tamed easily and are approachable. The call of the Emerald Doves is low soft moaning cooing consisting of six to seven coos, which starts quietly and rises. During courtship, the males perform a bobbing dance to woo the female counterpart.
Emerald Dove is the state bird of the Indian state of
Tamil Nadu.
(Last Updated on : 07-06-2013)