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11

Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata) Alternate name(s): "Little Dove", "Red-eyed Dove"; misnomer: "Turtle-dove*" Aboriginal name(s): "mennabroonka" (WA) Size: 19-21 cm Weight: 28-39 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Diamond Doves are small doves. The head, neck and chest are grey, while the belly and vent are off-white. The back (nape of the neck, mantle, wings, uppertail) is brownish grey. The wings have tiny white spots. Their most prominent feature is the characteristic red eye-ring. Male Diamond Doves have more prominent eye-rings than females. Their back also tends to be greyer, that of females being more brownish and they have more speckles as well, although differences are small and inconspicuous. The bill of both sexes is grey, with a dark tip, the legs and feet are pink. Juveniles have duller colours, with barring on the back and black and white barring on the brown wings.

Taxonomy, classification See Diamond Dove at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Diamond Dove is available HERE . Diamond Doves are endemic to Australia. They are well adapted to living in the Australian interior. Their range extends over most of the continent, except the southern extremities. They are not found in the southern parts of VIC and WA and the south-western half of SA (mostly around the Nullarbor and to the West of it). They are only rarely found in the rest of the southern half of WA. Diamond Doves are usually found near water courses in various types of environment, mostly in grassland or open scrub in the semi-arid plains of the interior, but also in hill ranges.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Diamond Doves, although nominally present over most of the Australian continent, are not routinely observed by us in the area of Narrabri, NSW. The first sighting was in March 2008, near Narran Lake NR, some 50 km West of Walgett, NSW. From there on, we spotted them in several locations along the Darling river (downstream), as well as Mt. Gundabooka NP, some 50 km South of Bourke, NSW. There were no sightings further west or north-west, towards Broken Hill, NSW. This was at a time when the Darling River was starting to run and had barely reached the weirs that need to overflow to feed the lakes in Kinchega NP at Menindee, NSW. We have first spotted Diamond Doves near Narrabri in December 2008, when they were found 20 km South-East of the township. At Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, they were first found in May 2009, followed by another sighting in March 2013. 4 birds appeared at the same location in January 2019, of which 2 stayed until March 2019. Next, Diamond Doves appeared at Eulah Creek and elsewhere around Narrabri, NSW, in February 2020. From initially 4 individuals at Eulah Creekin February 2020, by May 2020 more than 20 birds were present on our small rural property, with attempts to nest there. The species remained in the Narrabri area until at least the end of 2020. A Diamond Dove was found at Tiger Bay Wetlands, Warren, NSW, in December 2016. C. Hayne reports seeing Diamond Doves near Terry Hie Hie, NSW, semi-regularly. B. Hensen reports spotting Diamond Doves along the Marrakai track, NT, in August 2013. P. Brown found them in the same location in August 2018. J. Greaves reports spotting Diamond Doves at the Granites Gold Mine, inland NT, in June 2015, and at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016. H. Mouritsen spotted Diamond Doves at Pine Creek, NT, and along the Edith Falls Road, near Pine Creek, in October 2015. R. Plumtree reports spotting Diamond Doves near Mt. Gambier, SA, and on the Innamincka Road, SA, in October 2016. Diamond Doves were also found by us in the Bourke, NSW, area while M. Eaton found them in south-western QLD, e.g. in the area around Cunnamulla, in September 2017, and near Thargomindah, QLD, in June 2019. M. Mearns reports finding a Diamond Dove in Diamantina NP, QLD, in August 2019. In April 2020, after a push of large numbers of Diamond Doves eastward out of the Red Centre that started in February 2020, M. Eaton reports finding a Diamond Dove at the Anstead Reserve, Anstead, QLD. Also in April 2020 M. Windeyer found 6 Diamond Doves at the Gilgandra Flora Reserve, near Gilgandra, NSW. Their number increased to more than 20 by June 2020. In June 2022, M. Eaton found Diamond Doves at Roxby Downs, SA, and in other locations in inland SA, e.g. at the Montecollina Bore. The species was also found by M. Eaton in Alice Springs, NT, in October 2022.

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Frontal view of a male Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Near-frontal view of a male Diamond Dove
[75 km NW of Walgett, NSW, March 2022]

Near-frontal view of a male Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Diamond Dove; note the conspicuous orbital skin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Lateral view of a resting male Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]

Lateral view of a male Diamond Dove feeding on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Close-up lateral view of a male Diamond Dove feeding on the ground; note the prominent red eye-ring and the richness of the speckle pattern on its wings
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Lateral view of a male Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Lateral view of a male Diamond Dove hiding in the shade of a shrub
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, January 2017]

Lateral view of a male Diamond Dove inflating its thorax for cooing
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a male Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Near-dorsal view of a male Diamond Dove feeding on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Near-dorsal/ventral view of a male Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Marrakai track, Top End, NT, August 2018]

Dorsal view of a male Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Dorsal view of a male Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Comparison of a male Diamond Dove, right, with a Peaceful Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2020]

Comparison of a male Diamond Dove with two Jacky Winters
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

Comparison of a male Diamond Dove with a Diamond Firetail
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2020]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a Diamond Dove; given the inconspicuous eye-ring, this is probably a female
[Near Walgett, NSW, June 2012]

Frontal view of a resting female(?) Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

Near-frontal view of a female Diamond Dove
[Near Walgett, NSW, June 2012]

Near-lateral view of a resting female Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a resting female Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral view a female Diamond Dove - note the brownish back; this is the bird whose wing beats were recorded on 27 February 2020
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2020]

Lateral view of a female(?) Diamond Dove feeding on the edge of a gravel track
[Tiger Bay Wetlands, Warren, NSW, December 2016]

Dorsal view of a (probably female) Diamond Dove
[Near Narrabri, NSW, December 2008]

PAIR

Close-up view of a pair of Diamond Doves - male on the left, female on the right - note the male's more conspicuous orbital skin; males also tend to have more speckles and a more bluish-grey back (females tend to be more brownish)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

Pair of Diamond Doves - male, left, cooing for her, right; this is the bird whose calls were recorded on 5 April 2020
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Pair of Diamond Doves selecting a spot for nesting
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2020]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Alice Springs, NT, October 2022]

Near-lateral view of a Diamond Dove stretching its wings, showing the chestnut underside of the flight feathers
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Diamond Dove stretching a wing
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, August 2016]

Lateral view of 4 Diamond Doves
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, June 2020]

Lateral view of a Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)

Near-dorsal view of a Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, December 2012]

Diamond Dove on red soil
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2009]

3 Diamond Doves in the tropical North of Australia (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Marrakai track, NT, August 2013]

Diamond Doves, left and centre, with a Peaceful Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Diamond Dove, right, with two Crested Pigeons
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Frontal view of a Diamond Dove in flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral view of a preening juvenile Diamond Dove; at about 2 months old, this bird's orbital skin is red and the only remaining indication of young age is the brown tinge on the primary wing feathers
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2020]

Frontal view of a juvenile Diamond Dove; at about 1 month old, this bird's orbital skin is turning red
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Frontal view of a juvenile Diamond Dove looking sideways
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Lateral view of two juvenile Diamond Doves
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Near-lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Three juvenile Diamond Doves approaching a waterhole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Frontal portrait of a fledgling Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral view of a fledgling Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of a fledgling Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a fledgling Diamond Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Dec

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: ca. 13 days

Fledging age: 10 - 14 days

The breeding period listed above is a core period. As inland specialists, Diamond Doves can in principle breed any time of the year after good rainfall. Like most other doves and pigeons, they can have more than one clutch per year.

Nest building: Male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Rudimentary basket

Material: Sticks, twigs, rootlets

Height above ground: 1 - ? m

Diamond Dove nest with one visible young chick
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Male Diamond Dove brooding two hatchlings
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Diamond Dove nest with two hatchlings
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Diamond Dove nest with one egg and one hatchling
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Diamond Dove nest with two eggs in it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2020]

Diamond Dove nest hidden amongst the outer foliage of a Grevillea robusta
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Diamond Dove nest in a more open setting, with one egg inside
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Female Diamond Dove incubating
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Male Diamond Dove collecting nest material
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2020]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 20 x 15 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Oval

Diamond Dove nest with a full complement of two eggs in it
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Second Diamond Dove nest with a full complement of two eggs in it; note that the egg on the left is still so fresh that it is yellowish, semi-translucent and soft-shelled
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Diamond Dove incubating on the second nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/family

Pair of Diamond Doves - here a bit of TLC for the hen; this type of behaviour is part of a bonding ritual
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2020]

Diamond Doves are not shy at all and will sometimes let people (and also cars) approach very closely. Being seed-eaters, Diamond Doves are often found foraging by the sides of Outback gravel or dirt roads.

Non-breeding Diamond Doves can form loose flocks; seen here are 6 out of about 20 in total
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Like other doves and pigeons, Diamond Doves like basking in the sun
[Eulah Creek, NSW, February 2019]

We have observed a Diamond Dove flapping its wings, either both or only one, while sitting in a tree, possibly for cooling blood vessels in near-40 degree heat (see photos below).

Diamond Dove flapping both wings...
[Near Louth, NSW, March 2008]

... or just one.
[Near Louth, NSW, March 2008]

Diamond Dove stunned from a run-in with a window pane
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

The same Diamond Dove as shown above, only 9 seconds later - compare the colour of the orbital skin between the two shots
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2020]

Male Diamond Dove wooing a female
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2020]

Male Diamond Dove wooing a female
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Male Diamond Dove wooing a female - his tail is lacking a few feathers, but still he is trying his luck
[Eulah Creek, NSW, November 2020]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

All pigeons and doves are strictly vegetarian. Diamond Doves are seed-eaters.

Diamond Dove taking a seed
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2020]

Diamond Dove feeding on the seeds of weeds in grassland
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

This male Diamond Dove and female Peaceful Dove were observed foraging together in grassland
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Male Diamond Dove (left) with two females, feeding on a dirt road
[Near Narran Lakes NR, NSW, March 2008]

Diamond Dove as an example of a general rule that we have noticed - when pecking at something, birds (at least seed-eaters) close their eyes
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Diamond Dove taking grit
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2020

Diamond Doves taking grit
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2020]

Lateral view of a Diamond Dove drinking water
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, January 2021]

Diamond Doves having a drink of water
[Killarney SCA, NSW, May 2020]

Peaceful Doves drinking water together with Diamond Doves (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Peaceful Dove drinking water together with Diamond Doves (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Peaceful Dove drinking water together with a Diamond Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, July 2020]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Doves and pigeons do not, like other birds, open their bills when calling, but they rather "hum" through their noses, with the bill closed.

There is a separate page showing a male Diamond Dove calling with its bill closed.

diadove_20190207_3.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact call(?)	© MD
diadove_20190207_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls(?)	© MD
diadove_20190203.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls(?)	© MD
diadove_20200302_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact call(?); pair Q&A	© MD
diadove_20200413.m4a	(NW NSW)	Territorial call(?); male	© MD
diadove_20200719_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Male cooing	© MD
diadove_20200329_3.m4a	(NW NSW)	Male cooing (+ Peaceful Dove)	© MD
diadove_20190207.m4a	(NW NSW)	Departure	© MD
diadove_20200719_1.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various (male)	© MD
diadove_20200719.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various (male)	© MD
diadove_20200329_6.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various (male)	© MD
diadove_20200405.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various (male) + female departure	© MD
diadove_20200527.m4a	(NW NSW)	Male indicating to female: Food	© MD
diadove_20200527_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Male near fast-flowing creek	© MD
diadove_20200302.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD
diadove_20200527_3.m4a	(NW NSW)	?	© MD
diadove_20200619_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	?	© MD

We have also been able to record the wing beats of a Diamond Dove.

diadove_20200227.m4a	(NW NSW)	Departure (female)	© MD
diadove_20200619.m4a	(NW NSW)	Mixed flock with Peaceful Doves alighting	© MD

More Diamond Dove sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Mon, 14 November 2022, 3:53 +00:00