AGM 2019
Date posted: 09-Sep-2019
Our Annual General Meeting was held at 7:30 pm on Monday 23rd September at the F..
More plaudits for Tiritiri Matangi
Date posted: 15-Jul-2019
Recognition of the wonderful experience visitors have when visiting the Island h..
Results of the 2019 Photo Competition
Date posted: 15-Jul-2019
The results of this year's competition have now been decided. Click here (/2019-photo-co..
Lighthouse Open Day
Date posted: 30-Apr-2019
Our historic lighthouse, signal station and diaphonic foghorn will all be on dis..
We need a new Treasurer
Date posted: 08-Apr-2019
The Supporters need a new treasurer to take over in September when Kevin Vaughan..
2019 Concert
Date posted: 05-Feb-2019
OrigiNZ, the tartan taonga are returning for the 2019 concert.
Click..
Tiri's three unique foghorns
Date posted: 01-Feb-2019
Our next social event will take place on Monday 18th March when Carl Hayson and ..
Young Conservation Superstars win awards!
Date posted: 27-Jan-2019
Gabriel Barbosa and teacher Kate Asher, a team leader who co..
Entries for the 2019 photo competition
Date posted: 19-Jan-2019
We are now taking entries for the 2019 photographic competition. You can enter u..
Hihi volunteer needed
Date posted: 18-Oct-2018
Would you like to volunteer with the Island's hihi team and learn from them how ..
Spotted Dove
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Scientific name: |
Streptopelia chinensis |
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Conservation status: |
Introduced and naturalised |
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Mainland status: |
Locally common in the Auckland area |
| Size: | 30cm, 130g |
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Lifespan: |
Unknown |
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Breeding: |
October - February |
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Diet: |
Seeds, grain, occasional invertebrates |
The Spotted Dove was introduced to New Zealand as a cage bird but is now found in well treed suburbs, city parks and rural areas of Auckland, South Auckland, Te Puke and Opotiki.
The bird has a grey head tinged pink and the back, wings and rump are mottled brown. The nape and back of the neck is black with white spots. The long tail has darker outer feathers broadly tipped with white. The eye is red, the bill is black and the feet are pink. The call is a repeated ‘croo-croo’ or ‘cu-cu-croo-crook’.
They eat grass, clover and weed seeds, and split grain supplemented with the occasional invertebrates such as snails.
Breeding is mainly between October and February and they renest several times a season. They lay 2 white eggs in a well concealed flimsy platform of twigs. Both adults incubate for about 16 days and the chicks fledge at about 15 days old.
Although spotted doves are quite common on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, they are not often seen on Tiritiri Matangi.
Learn more about the spotted dove at New Zealand Birds Online.
Photography by: Max McRae ©
References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.