Zebra Dove

Looks how to spot one

feathers

A small, slender dove with a long, narrow tail. The back and wings are grey-brown crossed with fine black-and-white bars, the breast is soft pink with barred sides, and the face is blue-grey with a ring of bare bluish skin around each eye.1

Personality what they are like

A calm, quiet-natured little dove that rarely shows aggression. It is sociable with its own kind and other small birds, though usually more content to be watched than handled.2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Spends much of its time walking and foraging on the ground, so floor space matters as much as flying room.12

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide clean water daily in shallow dishes, free-choice fine grit and a calcium source such as crushed oyster shell, and keep the floor clean since the birds feed there.2

Home where they are happiest

For a pair, at least about 76 x 61 x 76 cm (30 x 24 x 30 in), with roughly 122 x 76 x 91 cm (48 x 30 x 36 in) or more preferred; bar spacing no wider than about 1.3 cm (1/2 in). An aviary with open floor area suits them well.2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

In the wild it eats small grass and weed seeds plus some insects. In captivity a small-seed mix (millet, canary seed, rape seed) forms most of the diet, topped up with fresh greens such as lettuce and dandelion.12

Company who they like around

Best kept in pairs, which form strong bonds; fits peacefully into mixed aviaries with finches and canaries.2

The story where it all began

A native of the Malay Peninsula and nearby Indonesian islands, the zebra dove has long been kept for its voice and has been carried by people to many islands, reaching Mauritius before 1768 and Hawaii in 1922. In Thailand and Indonesia it remains a popular cage bird.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Listed as Least Concern.1