Small, slender dove with distinctive long tapered tail. Adult male has pale brownish-gray head with bluish orbital ring and black eye, black bill and black crescent bordering lower edge of auricular. Brownish-gray back and wings with black spots on wing coverts and tertials. Wingtips darker than wings. Iridescent sheen on hindneck. Pale pinkish wash on breast. Pale brownish-gray underparts. Tail is brown-gray on top and white or buffy below with dark tip; when spread, it is pointy and brownish with white sides and black between white and brown. Reddish-pink legs. Adult female similar to male, except reduced pinkish iridescence and less of a pinkish wash on breast. Juvenile is shorter-tailed and darker brown overall than adult. Buffy edging on most feathers give it a spotted appearance. Cheek paler than head. Black patch extends forward to bill.

Length: 30 (cm) Wingspan: 46 (cm)

Voice:

Mournful cooing: hooah coo-coo-coo.

Habitat:

Open, shrubby, agricultural or suburban areas, often with scattered trees.

Behavior:

Birds in northern part of range are highly migratory. In non-breeding season, can form large flocks, but split up into pairs during breeding season.

Feeding:

Diet consists mainly of seeds, often agricultural crops such as grain. Sometimes eats insects and fruit.