Pearl-necked Dove

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney?

Possible. About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Pearl-necked Dove sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 5,634 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 28th most-seen of the 243 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney?

August to May. In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney on a given day, against about 20% in June and July, the lowest months.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Pearl-necked Dove?

Between 3 and 6 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Pearl-necked Dove sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Sydney the best place to see a Pearl-necked Dove?

97th of 139. Of the 139 cities where we can rate Pearl-necked Dove sightings, Sydney ranks 97th at about 30%. The best odds are in Hajipur (India, over 90%), Suzhou (China, about 90%) and Visakhapatnam (India, about 90%).

Q: Which relatives of the Pearl-necked Dove live in Sydney?

Same family: Columbidae. The closest relatives of the Pearl-necked Dove that you can see in Sydney (family Columbidae, Pigeons and Doves) are Rock Pigeon (about 40%) and Crested Pigeon (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Q: Where does the Pearl-necked Dove sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Pearl-necked Dove is recorded against all the birds logged in Sydney (5,634 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Spilopelia chinensis

Silhouette: Jun Mencius · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderColumbiformes (Pigeons and Doves)
FamilyColumbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
GenusSpilopelia (Laughing and Spotted Doves)
SpeciesSpilopelia chinensis (Pearl-necked Dove)

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

at Sydney

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%

5,634 Verified sightings at Sydney

39,753 In all 56 parks From 2019 to 2026

February Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

Challenge Asian City Birds AsiaEasy

About the Pearl-necked Dove

The spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) is a small and somewhat long-tailed pigeon that is a common resident breeding bird across its native range on the Indian subcontinent and in East and Southeast Asia. The species has been introduced to many parts of the world and feral populations have become established.

This species was formerly included in the genus Streptopelia with other turtle-doves, but studies suggest that they differ from typical members of that genus. This dove is long tailed buff brown with a white-spotted black collar patch on the back and sides of the neck. The tail tips are white and the wing coverts have light buff spots.

There are considerable plumage variations across populations within its wide range. The species is found in light forests and gardens as well as in urban areas. They fly from the ground with an explosive flutter and will sometimes glide down to a perch. It is also called the mountain dove, pearl-necked dove, lace-necked dove, and spotted turtle-dove.

The spotted dove was formally described in 1786 by the Austrian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli and given the binomial name Columba chinensis. Scopoli based... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Song0:25

China · 2026

Call0:08

China · 2024

Song0:53

India · 2025

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 22 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Udawalawe National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~90%
2	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~80%
3	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~80%
4	Kanha National Park	🇮🇳 India	~80%
5	Mudumalai National Park	🇮🇳 India	~80%
6	Bandhavgarh National Park	🇮🇳 India	~70%
7	Bandipur National Park	🇮🇳 India	~70%
8	Satpura National Park	🇮🇳 India	~70%
9	Chitwan National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~70%
10	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~70%
11	Kaziranga National Park	🇮🇳 India	~70%
12	Nagarhole National Park	🇮🇳 India	~70%
13	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~70%
14	Sundarbans National Park	🇮🇳 India	~70%
15	Sinharaja Forest Reserve	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~60%
16	Royal Bardia National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	~60%
17	Manas National Park	🇮🇳 India	~60%
18	Gir National Park	🇮🇳 India	~60%
19	Komodo National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~50%
20	Periyar National Park	🇮🇳 India	~50%
21	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~50%
22	Jim Corbett National Park	🇮🇳 India	~50%
23	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~50%
24	Ranthambore National Park	🇮🇳 India	~40%
25	Doi Inthanon National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~40%
26	Khao Sok National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~40%
27	Royal Manas National Park	🇧🇹 Bhutan	~30%
28	Way Kambas National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~30%
29	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	~30%
30	Kerinci Seblat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~30%
31	Gunung Leuser National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~20%
32	Sepilok	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~20%
33	Horton Plains National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	~20%
34	Taman Negara National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~20%
35	Khao Luang National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	~20%
36	Eravikulam National Park	🇮🇳 India	~20%
37	Noosa National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~20%
38	Keoladeo National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
39	Bako National Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	~10%
40	Rottnest Island	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
41	Great Otway National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
42	Wilsons Promontory National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
43	Daintree National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	~10%
44	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~10%
45	Namdapha National Park	🇮🇳 India	~10%
46	Royal National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
47	Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
48	Langtang National Park	🇳🇵 Nepal	<5%
49	Taroko National Park	🇹🇼 Taiwan	<5%
50	Springbrook National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
51	Kinabalu Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%
52	Cuc Phuong National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	<5%
53	Blue Mountains National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
54	Booderee National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
55	Lamington National Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
56	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Hajipur	🇮🇳 India	>90%
2	Suzhou	🇨🇳 China	~90%
3	Visakhapatnam	🇮🇳 India	~90%
4	Shanghai	🇨🇳 China	~90%
5	Denpasar	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~90%
6	Tamluk	🇮🇳 India	~90%
7	Kaohsiung	🇹🇼 Taiwan	~90%
8	Hong Kong	🇨🇳 China	~90%
9	Jakarta	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~90%
10	Guwahati	🇮🇳 India	~90%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Prague Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
2	Ostrava Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
3	Zoo Pilsen	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
4	Zoo Miami	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
5	Beijing Wildlife Park	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
6	Shanghai Wild Animal Park	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
7	Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China	In captivity
8	Kunming Zoo	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
9	Melbourne Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
10	Philadelphia Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
11	Kuala Lumpur Bird Park	🇲🇾 Malaysia	In captivity
12	Tamworth Marsupial Park & Adventure Playground	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
13	The Living Planet Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
14	Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
15	Birds of Eden	🇿🇦 South Africa	In captivity
16	Ipswich Nature Centre	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
17	Hertenkamp De Roedel	🇳🇱 Netherlands	In captivity
18	Peacock Garden	🇨🇳 China	In captivity
19	Edward Youde Aviary	🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China	In captivity
20	Rákosův pavilon	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
21	Velemlokárium	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
22	Ocean Park Hong Kong	🇨🇳 China	In captivity

Show all 22 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Sydney

Columba livia

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

LC Endemic

Ocyphaps lophotes

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

LC Endemic

Macropygia phasianella

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Lopholaimus antarcticus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Phaps chalcoptera

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Geopelia humeralis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Leucosarcia melanoleuca

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Columba leucomela

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Phaps elegans

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

LC Endemic

Manorina melanocephala

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

Trichoglossus haematodus

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Gymnorhina tibicen

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Pearl-necked Dove sighting in Sydney on a given day, based on 5,634 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 28th most-seen of the 243 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney?

August to May

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney on a given day, against about 20% in June and July, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Pearl-necked Dove?

Between 3 and 6 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Pearl-necked Dove sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Sydney the best place to see a Pearl-necked Dove?

97th of 139

Of the 139 cities where we can rate Pearl-necked Dove sightings, Sydney ranks 97th at about 30%. The best odds are in Hajipur (India, over 90%), Suzhou (China, about 90%) and Visakhapatnam (India, about 90%).

Which relatives of the Pearl-necked Dove live in Sydney?

Same family: Columbidae

The closest relatives of the Pearl-necked Dove that you can see in Sydney (family Columbidae, Pigeons and Doves) are Rock Pigeon (about 40%) and Crested Pigeon (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Pearl-necked Dove sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Pearl-necked Dove is recorded against all the birds logged in Sydney (5,634 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Sydney

Pearl-necked Dove

About the Pearl-necked Dove

Sounds

Recent sightings of Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Sydney

Rock Pigeon

Crested Pigeon

Brown Cuckoo-Dove

Topknot Pigeon

Common Bronzewing

Bar-shouldered Dove

Wonga Pigeon

White-headed Pigeon

Brush Bronzewing

Noisy Miner

Coconut Lorikeet

Australian Magpie

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney?

When is the best time to see a Pearl-necked Dove in Sydney?

What time of day is best to see a Pearl-necked Dove?

Is Sydney the best place to see a Pearl-necked Dove?

Which relatives of the Pearl-necked Dove live in Sydney?

Where does the Pearl-necked Dove sighting chance come from?