Cape Turtle Dove
Cape Turtle DoveCape Turtle DoveCape Turtle DoveCape Turtle Dove

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Virunga National Park
717 Verified records at Virunga National Park
October Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola), also known as the Cape turtle dove, half-collared dove, or the Cape Lager is a widespread and often abundant dove species in East and southern Africa. It is a mostly sedentary bird, found in a variety of open habitats. Within range, its penetrating and rhythmic, three-syllabled crooning is a familiar sound at any time of the year. Its name is derived from the semi-collar of black feathers on the lower nape, a feature shared with a number of Streptopelia species. Like all doves, they depend on surface water. They congregate in large flocks at waterholes in dry regions to drink and bathe. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Turtle Dove sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 717 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Virunga National Park

Red-eyed Dove
LC

Red-eyed Dove

☀️🌙 Day & Night Bird

Streptopelia semitorquata

30–40% · Possible
Dusky Turtle Dove
LC

Dusky Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia lugens

5–10% · With luck
African Mourning Dove
LC

African Mourning Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia decipiens

<5% · Rare
Vinaceous Dove
LC

Vinaceous Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia vinacea

<5% · Rare
Tambourine Dove
LC

Tambourine Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur tympanistria

20–30% · Possible
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Blue-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur afer

10–20% · With luck
Rameron Pigeon
LC

Rameron Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba arquatrix

10–20% · With luck
LADO

LADO

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia senegalensis

5–10% · With luck
African Green Pigeon
LC

African Green Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Treron calvus

5–10% · With luck
Speckled Pigeon
LC

Speckled Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba guinea

5–10% · Rare
Western Bronze-naped Pigeon
LC

Western Bronze-naped Pigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Columba iriditorques

<5% · Rare
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
20–30
May
10–20
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
10–20
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
80–90%
2 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
70–80%
3 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
70–80%
4 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
70–80%
5 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
70–80%
6 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
60–70%
7 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
60–70%
8 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
60–70%
9 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
60–70%
10 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
60–70%
11 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
60–70%
12 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
60–70%
13 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
60–70%
14 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
60–70%
15 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
60–70%
16 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
60–70%
17 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
60–70%
18 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
50–60%
19 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
50–60%
20 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
21 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
22 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
23 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
24 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
25 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
26 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
27 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
50–60%
28 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
50–60%
29 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
30 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
31 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
40–50%
32 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
33 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
34 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
35 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
36 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
37 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
20–30%
38 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
39 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
20–30%
40 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
41 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
10–20%
42 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
10–20%
43 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
10–20%
44 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
45 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
46 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
47 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
10–20%
48 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
49 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
50 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Turtle Dove in Virunga National Park?

About 17% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Turtle Dove sighting in Virunga National Park, based on 717 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cape Turtle Dove in Virunga National Park?

October has the highest sighting rate for Cape Turtle Dove in Virunga National Park in our monthly data.

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