The Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), also known as the Spotted Turtle Dove, is a pigeon which is a resident breeding bird in tropical southern Asia from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka east to south China and Southeast Asia. It is also known as the Chinese Dove, Mountain Dove, or Lace-necked Dove.
As it possesses numeous apomorphies separating it from the "typical" turtle- and collared doves (Streptopelia sensu stricto), it is here separated in the genus proposed for it, Spilopelia. DNA sequence data is quite in line with such a treatment, but would favor including the Spotted Dove's closest living relative (Laughing Dove, S. senegalensis) in Spilopelia also. While these two species are each rather autapomorphic in appearance, their behavior and molecular data support treating them as a small and distinct genus, perhaps originating on the northern Mascarene Plateau (now submerged) or in in the lands around the northern Arabian Sea, which regions are between their present-day ranges.
This species builds a stick nest in a tree and lays two white, glossy eggs. In southern Australia, they breed mostly from September to January, and in the north in Autumn. Its flight is quick, with the regular beats and an occasional sharp flick of the wings which are characteristic of pigeons in general.
Spotted Dove is a long-tailed, slim pigeon, ranging in length from 28 to 32 centimetres (11.2 to 12.8 inches). Its back, wings and tail are pale brown, heavily spotted with buff. In flight, it shows blackish flight feathers bordered on the inner edge with pale grey. Sexes are similar, but juveniles are duller than adults often lacking the patchy neckband when very immature. The head and underparts are pinkish, shading to pale grey on the face and lower belly. There is a black neck patch finely spotted with white. The legs are red.
Spotted Doves eat grass seeds, insects, grains and other vegetation. They are fairly terrestrial, foraging on the ground in grasslands and cultivation. It breeds all year round with nests commonly found in trees, edge of buildings or even on the ground.
