IDENTIFICATION

VOCALISATIONS

There is some variation in the song, but two basic types are presented below.

In bowing display to the female, the male utters a two-note song.

DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT PREFERENCE

Spotted Dove is a common and conspicuous species in most anthropogenic habitats in HK including the heart of the urban area, parks and gardens, village areas, farmland and around fish ponds. It is frequently found in small patches of trees and the edge of woodland, but rarely occurs far from human settlement, though it is found on some small, uninhabited, islands.

Whilst it remains one of HK’s most widespread bird species, comparison of the atlas survey data suggests a small decline in range. It was noted in 62.4% of squares in the 1993-96 breeding atlas survey, 55.0% of squares in the 2001-05 winter survey and 55.9% and 51.4% of squares in the 2016-19 breeding and winter surveys respectively. However, comparison of the atlas maps suggests no particular pattern of decline, and it may be that the apparent small diminution in range is stochastic rather than real. One apparent change, for which confirmation would be useful, is that Spotted Dove has apparently disappeared from the Soko Islands and Shek Kwu Chau since the first pair of surveys. The Soko Islands ceased to be inhabited in 1996, but Shek Kwu Chau remains inhabited.

Quantitatively, the second atlas surveys suggest that the highest numbers of Spotted Doves are found in the major urban areas of HK Island, Kowloon, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long, with high numbers also present in other urban centres and the northwest New Territories. Numbers are lower on Lantau, Sai Kung and the northeast New Territories, all areas with a smaller human population and less suitable habitat.

Historical records suggest that no change in status has occurred. Swinhoe (1861) found Spotted Dove to be ‘the prevailing species of dove’ in HK, a description which remains valid today.

OCCURRENCE 

Spotted Dove is a resident species in HK, with no indication of any migratory movements. However, examination of counts at some well-surveyed sites shows clear evidence of what are presumed to be local movements, but the pattern differs at different sites. Thus, at Mai Po in the period from 2010 to 2014 peak counts were made in winter (early December to mid March) with numbers occurring during this period typically two to five times greater than in late summer (July to September), when they were lowest, though there were marked fluctuations. At Long Valley during 2015 to 2019 there was a regular pattern, with numbers in midsummer (June to August) and midwinter (December and January) approximately two or three times higher than those of spring and autumn. Conversely, at Po Toi during 2007 to 2012 numbers were highest in March to May and, to a lesser extent, October to December and lowest during June to August, with peak counts being up to five times those of the the lowest (G. Welch in litt.).

Spotted Dove is generally found singly, in pairs or in small parties and whilst tens of individuals may frequently be found aggregating at an abundant food source, for example fish food on pond bunds, flocks are unusual. Thus, whilst the highest single site count is of 138 birds at Mai Po on 5 February 2008, the highest count that might be described as comprising a flock is one of 63 birds feeding on the grass together at Wong Tai Sin on 11 December 2003.

BEHAVIOUR, FORAGING & DIET

Spotted Dove is typically encountered foraging on the ground singly or in pairs, resting in or singing from a tree, lamp standard or building. Individuals in urban areas may be very approachable, even leaving it until the last moment to get out of the way of an approaching person or vehicle; however, in rural areas, and especially when in song, they can be shy.

Spotted Dove appears to be a species that has a particular propensity for sunbathing: individuals lie on the ground, especially in short grass, and raise one wing, exposing the underwing coverts which often have a ruffled appearance – presumably this behaviour is a way of getting rid of feather lice or other parasites.

The display flight is commonly seen and involves a steep rise with wings clapped and a descent that describes a wide arc while the tail is fanned and the wings are pushed forward; invariably the landing point differs from that at take-off. A slow bowing display is given to the female with the neck feathers erect while uttering a two-note song. Wing clapping is frequently heard from birds taking flight.

The natural diet of Spotted Dove is that of a granivore and facultative frugivore. Observations of food items include vegetable seeds and grains, the fallen fruit or the seeds of Sapium discolor, S. sebiferum, Ficus microcarpa, F. virens, Macaranga tanarius var. tomentosa and Panicum sp. (Carey et al. 2001) and fruit of Alocasia odorata. However, this species regularly takes advantage of food accidentally or deliberately provided by people. Historically Pereira described it as ‘the scourge of Chinese farmers’ in view of its seed and grain-eating (Carey et al. 2001); nowadays bread and noodles provided as fish food are readily consumed, whilst in the urban area discarded (human) food is frequently eaten.

BREEDING 

Spotted Dove is one of a few species that breeds throughout the year in HK, although the peak breeding season is from March to July (Herklots 1953). A rather flimsy nest made from twigs, roots and grass stems is usually placed in a tree up to 8 m above the ground. Tree species reported include pines (presumably Pinus massoniana), Chinese Fir Cunninghamia lanceolata, Longan Euphoria longan, Casuarina Casuarina equisetifolia and Chinese Banyan Ficus microcarpa (Herklots 1932, 1953). Nesting also regularly occurs on buildings; the sheltered alcoves above the external elements of air conditioning units are often favoured. Two white eggs are laid and multiple or replacement clutches may be laid in the same nest site within a week of the previous brood fledging.

RANGE & SYSTEMATICS 

Occurs throughout China east of the Tibetan Plateau north to Beijing and Xian and south to Yunnan; throughout the Indian subcontinent and throughout southeast Asia including the Greater Sundas and the Philippines. Widely introduced in Indonesia east of Wallace’s line, eastern Australia and western USA (Garrett and Walker 2023, Liu and Chen 2021).

IOC recognises five subspecies, of which the nominate race is found in much of China including HK and Taiwan, whilst S. c. hainana is endemic to Hainan. The other three races are found in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia.

Some authorities, including IUCN, separate the two taxa in India and Sri Lanka as Western Spotted Dove S. suratensis; if this approach is followed the English name of the birds occurring in HK becomes Eastern Spotted Dove, the scientific name is unchanged.

CONSERVATION STATUS 

IUCN: Least Concern. Population trend increasing.