© Eric Francois Roualet
© James Kennerley
© Giuseppe Citino
© Marie O'Neill

Black-billed Wood-Dove Turtur abyssinicus

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Identification

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A small, pale dove with an all-black bill and purple iridescent spots on the wing. Most colorful in flight, when rufous wing patches and black bars on the back and tail are revealed. Found in a variety of savanna, woodland, and thicket habitats. Very similar to Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, but slightly paler, especially on the head, and there is little overlap in range. Also similar to Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, but separated by the all-black bill. The song starts with a few hesitant notes, then accelerates into a long series of “boop” notes.

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