Most people land on “Barbary dove” pages because they’re trying to identify a gentle-looking collared dove, check whether it’s a suitable pet, or work out what “ringneck dove” actually means. The confusion is understandable: the names are used loosely, and the wild species most people see in streets and parks is usually not the domesticated bird sold for aviaries.
Below is the straight story. What a Barbary Dove is (and isn’t), what it needs in captivity, and the basic biology that sits underneath the soft cooing and neat black neck ring.
Quick facts: Barbary Dove (ringneck dove)
- Common names: Barbary Dove, ringneck dove, Ringed Turtle-Dove (in aviculture)
- Scientific name used in aviculture: Streptopelia risoria (a domesticated form of the African Collared-Dove, Streptopelia roseogrisea)1, 2, 3
- Adult size: commonly around 25–27 cm long; many sources place adults around 150–160 g (varies with strain and condition)3
- Typical clutch: 2 eggs3
- Incubation: about 14–16 days (often cited close to 15 days)3
- Temperament in captivity: generally calm and tolerant; does best with a compatible mate or steady companion rather than living alone for long periods7
- Lifespan in captivity: often cited up to ~12 years with good care (sometimes longer)4
What a Barbary Dove is (and why the name causes mix-ups)
The “Barbary Dove” most people mean in pet and aviary settings is a domesticated dove, selectively bred for colour and tameness over generations. It’s commonly labelled Streptopelia risoria, and most modern summaries treat it as a domestic form derived from the African Collared-Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea), not the Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto).1, 2, 3
In the wild (including in Australia and North America), a “collared dove” seen around shops, grain spills, and suburban streets is usually a different bird altogether—often the Eurasian Collared-Dove (S. decaocto) where it has established populations. That species is wild, widespread, and listed as Least Concern globally.5
Physical characteristics
Barbary Doves are medium-sized, compact doves with a rounded head, a pale fawn-to-grey body, and the familiar narrow black half-collar on the hindneck. In captive-bred lines, plumage can vary widely—white, pied, “tangerine”, and other colours—because people have selected for appearance for a long time.4
The draft text describing them as “good swimmers” isn’t accurate. Doves may bathe and can float briefly in an emergency, but they are not adapted for swimming as a normal behaviour, and it shouldn’t be treated as a husbandry feature.
Habitat and distribution
Because the Barbary Dove is domesticated, it doesn’t have a natural “range” in the same way a wild species does. Its wild ancestor, the African Collared-Dove, is associated with arid and semi-arid habitats, scrub, savanna, and areas near water, and it can also occur around farms and towns.3, 8
Feral birds may occur where captive doves escape, but long-term self-sustaining populations are not always reliable without access to human-provided food and suitable shelter.8
Behaviour and social structure
In an aviary, Barbary Doves tend to move with quiet purpose: walking and feeding on the ground, then lifting up to a perch to rest. They are usually best kept as a compatible pair, or with careful management in small groups where space and multiple feeding points reduce squabbles.7
They do form strong pair bonds, and routine matters. Sudden changes—new cage mates, a moved enclosure, persistent disturbance—often show up as subtle stress: less feeding, more hiding, or a bird sitting “puffed” for longer than usual.
Diet and feeding
Doves are primarily seed-eaters. In practical terms, that means a quality seed mix formulated for doves/pigeons, supplemented thoughtfully rather than constantly “treat-fed”. Clean water must always be available.7
For many keepers, the quiet essentials make the difference:
- Seed as the base (not bread, not kitchen scraps).
- Calcium support (especially for laying hens), commonly via cuttlebone, mineral blocks, or other bird-safe sources.
- Grit as appropriate for seed-eating birds, since it supports normal grinding of food in the gizzard.
If you’re breeding, nutritional gaps show up quickly in egg quality, chick growth, and repeated clutches that leave hens run down.
Breeding and reproduction
A typical dove nest is a simple platform of sticks—sometimes so minimal it looks temporary. Two white eggs are the norm, and incubation is shared. Many summaries place incubation around 15 days, with chicks fledging roughly two weeks after hatching under good conditions.3
In captivity, they may breed opportunistically when food, water, daylight, and nesting sites make it easy. That productivity is not always a benefit. If you don’t want continuous breeding, manage nesting access and speak with an avian vet about safe options rather than letting repeated clutches deplete the birds.
Vocalisations and communication
The familiar sound is the steady coo—often given from a perch, sometimes with a small bowing display. Doves also communicate with posture: body held tall and still, head-bobbing during courtship, or a quick wing-flick when unsettled. These are signals, not guarantees of temperament, and they’re best read in context: enclosure size, recent handling, and whether the bird can retreat to cover.
Housing and husbandry: what “spacious” really means
For Barbary Doves, space is welfare. They do best in an enclosure that allows real flight, not just hopping between perches. Keep the structure dry, easy to clean, and predator-proof, with shade and a sheltered section that blocks prevailing wind and rain.7
In Australia, local councils can also set rules around where bird enclosures can be placed, how they’re maintained, and how nuisance (noise, smell, vermin) is managed. Check your own council, but the pattern is consistent: secure construction, regular cleaning, feed stored to avoid pests, and setbacks from boundaries and neighbouring dwellings.6
Health issues to watch for
Many dove illnesses look the same at first: a bird sits quietly, eats less, and breathes harder than it should. Respiratory disease and parasites are common concerns in captive pigeons and doves, and early action matters—especially because birds hide illness until they can’t.7
Seek prompt avian veterinary advice if you notice:
- tail-bobbing or open-mouth breathing
- wheezing, clicking, or wet sounds while breathing
- fluffed feathers and reluctance to move for more than a short rest
- watery droppings, weight loss, or repeated regurgitation
- crusts around the cere/nostrils, or swelling around the eyes
Good hygiene is not glamourous, but it changes outcomes: dry litter, clean water containers, rodent-proof feed storage, and quarantine for new birds before they join an established pair or group.7
Conservation status and threats
Because the Barbary Dove is domesticated, it isn’t assessed for conservation status in the same way wild species are. When people talk about “Least Concern”, they’re usually referring to wild collared-dove species such as the Eurasian Collared-Dove, which is listed as Least Concern globally.5
References
- Wikipedia – Barbary dove
- Wikipedia – Streptopelia (taxonomy notes include Barbary dove domestication context)
- Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan) – Streptopelia roseogrisea (African collared dove)
- Happy Hollow Park & Zoo – Domestic barbary dove
- IUCN Red List – Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
- Logan City Council – Aviary birds (enclosure requirements and setbacks)
- RSPCA Australia Knowledgebase – Where should I keep my birds?
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology (All About Birds) – African Collared-Dove life history
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology (All About Birds) – Eurasian Collared-Dove life history
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom