Scientific name: Columba guinea
This is a large pigeon at 41 cm in length. Its back and wings are rufous, the latter heavily speckled with white spots. The rest of the upperparts and underparts are blue-grey, and the head is grey with red patches around the eye. The neck is brownish, streaked with white, and the legs are red. The call is a loud doo-doo-doo.
With in southern Africa it is common in western and central Namibia, southern Botswana, Zimbabwe (marginally extending into Mozambique), Swaziland, Lesotho and South Africa. It generally prefers rocky areas with mountains, cliffs and gorges, but it has recently taken to urban and rural buildings, where it often roosts and nests.
Feeds mainly on seeds, rarely eating fruits and leaves. It typically forages on the ground, usually on farmland, lawns or roads.
