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Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida [striata]) Alternate name(s): "Ground-dove", "Doo-doo", "Zebra Dove" Aboriginal name(s): Race "placida": "gunggan.gan"/"gungangan" [eastern bundjalung]; "gurrugu" [ngadjon] Size: 19-21 cm; wing span: 30-35 cm Body mass: 38-66 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.24-0.41

Australia: Family Group 11 Family Group 11 Table White-headed Pigeon Pied Imperial Pigeon Topknot Pigeon Crested Pigeon Spinifex Pigeon Flock Bronzewing Common Bronzewing Brush Bronzewing Squatter Pigeon Partridge Pigeon White-quilled Rock-Pigeon Chestnut-quilled Rock-Pigeon Black-Banded Fruit-Dove Wompoo Fruit-Dove Superb Fruit Dove Rose-crowned Fruit Dove Pacific Emerald Dove Nicobar Pigeon Brown Cuckoo-Dove Wonga Pigeon Peaceful Dove Diamond Dove Bar-shouldered Dove Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Peaceful Doves are small doves. They have a grey face and cap. The neck is finely streaked grey and black. The front (chest, belly, vent and undertail) are creamy-brown. The back (mantle and wings) are streaked brownish-grey and black. The uppertail is grey. The base of the bill, gape and eye-ring are light-blue. The bill is grey, the legs and feet are brownish. In the field it is very difficult to tell the sexes apart. Male Peaceful Doves may have a bit more prominent blue facial skin than females. Juvenile and immature Peaceful Doves have a greyer front than adults and paler head markings. Their irises are also darker than those of adults.

Taxonomy, classification See Peaceful 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 Peaceful Dove is available HERE . Peaceful Doves are found in southern New Guinea and in Australia. There are two races of Peaceful Doves in Australia, both of which are endemic. They are found basically in the entire eastern half of the Australian continent, plus the Top End of the NT and a wide strip along the North-West coast, through the Kimberley and Pilbara, down to about the area of Geraldton, WA. They are not found in the south-eastern two-thirds of WA, the south-western quadrant of the NT and the western half of SA. The range of race "clelandi" is restricted to parts of WA, along the coastal fringe from about Geraldton to Eighty Mile Beach. Beyond Eighty Mile Beach, everywhere else within the species' range as described above, nominate race "placida" is found. Peaceful Doves usually live in and around open forest, commonly near water. They are also found by us regularly on grassland, especially near farms. Where to look? How to find this species? Peaceful Doves can often be found at the interface of woodland with more open country, e.g. grassland, or in mixed vegetation as it may be found on rural properties, possibly with not-too-dense vegetation in gardens.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "placida" Peaceful Doves, race "placida", were frequent visitors on the yard and grass around the place where we lived 2003-2006, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW. Peaceful Doves, race "placida", are quite common and widespread in inland NSW and have been spotted by us in various different locations (e.g. Mt. Kaputar NP, Deriah Aboriginal Area, but also open farm country at Eulah Creek. C. Hayne reports that Peaceful Doves, race "placida", are observed regularly in the area of Moree, NSW. We have found Peaceful Doves, race "placida", in abundance in the Northern Territory in August 2014. J. Greaves reports spotting Peaceful Doves, race "placida", in Broome, WA, in April 2015, and at the Kununurra, WA, sewage treatment plant in January 2016. The species was also seen at Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island, NT, in September 2016, and at Pickertaramoor, Melville Island, off Darwin, NT, in December 2016. M. Eaton reports spotting Peaceful Doves, race "placida", regularly in various locations in SE QLD. Others were found at a waterhole 100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, in June 2026. P. Brown reports spotting Peaceful Doves, race "placida", regularly in and around Darwin. They were also found at Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, in April 2018. M. Mearns found Peaceful Doves, race "placida", at Home Hill, QLD, in September 2019. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found Peaceful Doves, race "placida", nesting at Forest Gardens, Cairns, QLD, in October 2019. In July 2024, and again in June 2025, C. Pears found Peaceful Doves, race "placida", in Broome, WA. This location is near the western boundary of this race's range. Race "clelandi" M. Pears reports finding a Peaceful Dove, race "clelandi", at Exmouth, WA, in May 2021.

Photos

Race "placida"

ADULT

PAIR

The difference between male and female is most easily determined by behaviour, rather than appearance.

Frontal view of a pair of Peaceful Doves; the male is seen on the left, the female on the right
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]

Frontal/lateral view of a pair of Peaceful Doves approaching water; male on the right
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, March 2024]

Near-lateral view of a pair of Peaceful Doves resting on a somewhat overgrown lawn
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2012]

MALE

Near-frontal view from above of a male Peaceful Dove trying to impress a female
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Lateral view of a male Peaceful Dove cooing for a female
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Peaceful Dove trying to impress a female
[Eulah Creek, NSW, August 2022]

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Peaceful Dove looking sideways
[Maules Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Near-frontal view of a Peaceful Dove heading towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-frontal view of a Peaceful Dove looking at the observer
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Near-frontal view of a Peaceful Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]

Near-frontal view of a Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Near-lateral view of a Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a Peaceful Dove looking towards the observer
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2025]

Close-up near-lateral/ventral view of a Peaceful Dove
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2025]

Lateral view of a Peaceful Dove perched low while approaching a waterhole
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2009]

Lateral view of a Peaceful Dove on red soil (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Broome, WA, April 2015]

Lateral view of a Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Lateral view of a Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Lateral view of a Peaceful Dove
[Maules Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Stanage Bay, QLD, July 2021]

Near-dorsal view of Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Lake Argyle, near Kununurra, WA, April 2018]

Dorsal view of a Peaceful Dove looking sideways
[Maules Creek, NSW, July 2011]

Dorsal view of a Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

"Mystery dove" - Peaceful Doves are swift fliers and hard to catch on camera while in the air (photo courtesy of R. Druce)

Size comparison between a Peaceful Dove and a Crested Pigeon
[Eulah Creek, NSW, June 2012]

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

Peaceful Dove in comparison with a Double-barred Finch (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-frontal view of an immature Peaceful Dove looking sideways; note the faint blue-grey (rather than blue) orbital skin and the dark iris
[Pilliga NP, NSW, May 2021]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Peaceful Dove looking towards the observer
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, January 2026]

Close-up lateral view of an immature Peaceful Dove
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, January 2026]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a juvenile Peaceful Dove
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2012]

Lateral view of a juvenile Peaceful Dove
[Yarrie Lake, NSW, April 2021]

Lateral view of 3 Peaceful Doves having a drink, juvenile in front, with 3 Diamond Doves behind, juvenile at the back
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, June 2026]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Peaceful Dove (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Town of 1770, QLD, September 2017]

Lateral/ventral view of two fledgling Peaceful Doves
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]

Race "clelandi"

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Juvenile Peaceful Dove that has found a temporary resting place on the bonnet of a vehicle (photo courtesy of M. Pears)
[Exmouth, WA, May 2021]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Feb

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 15 - 17 days

Fledging age: ca. 12 days

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Depending on geographic latitude and weather conditions, Peaceful Doves can breed at any time of the year. In the south-eastern part of the Australian continent they breed primarily from September to February, in the tropical north from April to August. Like most other doves and pigeons, they can have more than one clutch per year.

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Pair of Peaceful Doves working on the next generation
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2019]

Nest

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

Type: Rudimentary basket

Material: Sticks, twigs

Height above ground: 1 - 10 m

Close-up frontal view of a Peaceful Dove on its nest (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Forest Gardens, Cairns, QLD, October 2019]

Peaceful Doves on their nest, which was found in a depression on a major branch of a dead tree protruding over a dirt road
[Near Pine Creek, NT, August 2014]

Peaceful Dove on its nest in a depression on a dead tree branch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, NT, January 2019]

Peaceful Dove on its nest in a depression on a dead tree branch (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, NT, January 2019]

After tropical storms nesting space is at a premium, which makes bird take risks like putting nests on palm fronds...
(photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nakara, Darwin, NT, May 2019]

... but it looks as if these two Peaceful Dove chicks were going to make it (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Nakara, Darwin, NT, May 2019]

Peaceful Dove nest in the fork of a major branch in a Cypress pine tree
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Overview of a pair of Peaceful Doves at their nest; the female is incubating, with the male in attendance (on the right)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

Close-up look at mum Peaceful Dove at work
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

In the following days this developed into the female's favourite sitting position (facing the other way round)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

Close-up view of a Peaceful Dove nest with two bald, blind hatchlings inside
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

At 8 days old, the Peaceful Dove chicks look well-developed (one is hiding under mum's wing)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

At 10 days old, when mum took a comfort break, we finally got a chance to see both little rascals - two Peaceful Dove chicks; both fledged two days later, aged 12 days
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

Apparently having decided that this was good fun, the same pair of Peaceful Doves had another go at it 40 days after laying the first egg of the first brood, but the second brood failed.

Same palm tree, presumably the same pair of Peaceful Doves, one year later
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Eggs

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

Size: 21 x 17 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Oval

With the incubating bird off the nest, one can sometimes see an egg through the flimsy construction (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[McMinns Lagoon, NT, January 2019]

Seen from this side the Peaceful Dove egg still looks almost round; it has a very small axial ratio of 1.235
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

The photo above of the Peaceful Dove egg was taken with a flash; this shot gives a better impression of the true light conditions
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

A day later there were two Peaceful Dove eggs in the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2014]

Same palm tree, presumably same pair of Peaceful Doves, different nest, one year later - again there are two eggs
[Eulah Creek, NSW, October 2015]

Second attempt in the 2015/16 breeding season, now in a bottlebrush tree - again there are two eggs in the nest
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2016]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/covey

Being seed eaters, Peaceful Doves are often found foraging on the ground in groups. Astonishingly, they sometimes also rest on the ground, in open, exposed areas.

Below a pair seen basking in the sun, one lifting a wing at the same time, reminiscent of the way chickens use their wings to cool their bodies by means of evaporating moisture under their wings. However, the birds in the photo below were seen on a relatively cool (27-28 C) day.

Peaceful Doves basking in the sun, one lifting a wing exposing the underside to sunlight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2008]

Dorsal view of a Peaceful Dove resting in exposed grassland
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

We have noticed in the tropical North of the Australian continent that Peaceful Doves hang out a lot more with Bar-shouldered Doves (race "inexpectata") than in the SE of the continent.

Peaceful Doves foraging together with Bar-shouldered Doves
[Darwin, NT, August 2014]

Mob of 7 Peaceful Doves in a eucalypt
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2020]

As other doves and pigeons, Peaceful Doves are visibly affectionate with their partners; here is him (left) moving up to her (right); such "TLC" is part of a bonding ritual
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

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

Peaceful Dove foraging in grass
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2011]

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

Near-lateral view of a Peaceful Dove that, like other species of doves and pigeons, seems to be able to find something interesting in the most unlikely places
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Close-up lateral view of two Peaceful Doves having a drink (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[100 km W of Timber Creek, NT, June 2026]

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]

Peaceful Dove coming in for a drink from a puddle
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2007]

Peaceful Dove taking water from a bowl (photo courtesy of A. Campbell)
[Mount McEuen, QLD, July 2017]

Peaceful Doves and Double-barred Finch at a man-made waterhole (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2019]

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.

pcedove_20200302_3.m4a	placida (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
pcedove_20150119_2.mp3	placida (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
pcedove_20150119_4.mp3	placida (NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
pcedove_20181127.m4a	placida (NW NSW)	Arrival & cooing(?) (male)	© MD
pcedove_20200302.m4a	placida (NW NSW)	Cooing male(?)	© MD
pcedove_20190227.m4a	placida (NW NSW)	Competing males?	© MD
pcedove_20191127.m4a	placida (NW NSW)	Various (two pairs)	© MD
pcedove_20200302_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various; interacting with Diamond Dove	© MD

We have also recorded Peaceful Dove wing beats.

pcedove_20191127_1.m4a	placida (NW NSW)	Perch to perch	© MD
diadove_20200619.m4a	(NW NSW)	Mixed flock with Diamond Doves alighting	© MD

More Peaceful 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.

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