The Speckled Pigeon or (African) Rock Pigeon (Columba guinea) is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara. It is a common and widespread species in open habitats over a good deal of its range, although there are sizeable gaps in its distribution.
Photography: Birds in my garden
FEATURED in Afrikaans is my moedertaal/Afrikaans is my mother tongue
21 October 2010.
FEATURED in Fauna, Flora and Landscapes in South Africa
24 October 2010.
FEATURED in The wonder of Wings
8 December 2010.

A laminated print

This species builds a large stick nest in a tree and lays two white eggs. Its flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.
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.

A mounted print
Sexes are similar, but immatures are browner than adults.
The Speckled Pigeon is frequently seen around human habitation and cultivation. Most of its food is vegetable, and it gathers in large numbers where grain or groundnuts are available.
’n Kransduif op ons huis se dak./ A speckled pigeon on the roof of our house in South Africa
Canon Power Shot S51S

A greeting card