Diamond Dove

For a dove species, the diamond dove is surprisingly small, but eye catching nevertheless, especially with its prominent red eye ring. Many find its soft cooing a pleasant alternative to a boisterous parrot.

The diamond dove is a tiny, delicate-looking bird whose body is about the size of a lovebird, but with a long, slender tail. The nominate bird, or the color of the bird most often found in nature, is a darkish-gray with white specks on the wings, though there are now mutations, including white and silver. The diamond dove is dimorphic, meaning that there is a visible difference between the sexes: both sexes have a red eye-ring, though the male’s ring is larger. This makes pairing easy, which is a plus for the beginning hobbyist.

Doves have different housing needs than parrots. Doves are unable to climb up the cage bars like parrots can; instead they move about by flying back and forth, which makes a wide cage an important feature. Diamond doves spend a good part of their day on the ground so they should have plenty of room to walk about. Offer a variety of perch styles and of varying diameters, which will help promote good foot health in your dove. Doves also need opportunities for bathing.

Doves, unlike parrots, do not crush their seed with their beak, and will need some grit in their diet. Feed a good seed mixture, and offer plenty of greens and soft fruits. A well-cooked hardboiled egg and egg food will be appreciated during breeding time. These birds will breed well in an open nest, a bit larger than a canary’s nest, with a liner and nesting material added. Make sure to rest your birds for a few months every two clutches, or risk exhausting your birds, lessening their lifespan. Keep your doves in as large a cage as you can afford; because your doves may never leave the cage, it’s important that you provide for as much exercise as possible. A hen that can’t exercise may become egg bound and die. These birds are reported to live for up to 10 years when cared-for properly.

Doves are susceptible to red mites, which hide during the day and come out at night to feed on the bird’s blood, and doves housed outdoors are susceptible to roundworms, tapeworms and other worm species. Canker, a respiratory disease that shows as a swelling in the dove’s throat and a cheesy looking growth around the mouth, can be fatal if not treated. Those who keep pigeons should wash their hands after handling, feeding or cleaning the dove’s housing because doves can transfer Chlamydia and Salmonella (bacterial infections) to people. Overall, doves are generally healthy birds.