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Doves provide yet another dimension to the aviary. They bring their distinctive cooing as well as their rather ungainly flying ability. As we have had the pleasure of a greater variety of species, so we have come to appreciate their qualities more and more - they are elegant as well as being both hardy and accomodating in a community. We will continue to look to expand the range of species and, hence, size, colouration, behaviours etc as we feel they add a lot to the aviaries.

They are not always easy to sex, though you get used to spotted the strong pink eye-ring of the diamond cock bird. However, once a pair comes together they will breed non-stop raising several clutches a year. I have been told that the normis for them to lay 2 eggs but only hatch out one. If, though, the hen manages to bring both on, the 2 chicks will then both be of the same sex.

They eat small seeds (millet etc) almost exclusively and prefer to feed on the ground in the mornings and late afternoons. I assume that this is why they are refered to as ground doves.

The Diamond doves are very easy to source and we have always kept at least one pair. We also started to keep others such as the Peruvian yellow-billed dove. It seems to be one of a number of South American Gold-billed Ground Doves. They are just as awkward on the wing but the sexes are easily distinguished as can be seen in the photographs. They never bred, unfortunately and we never really understood why. We now have a pair of Peaceful Doves and are hopeful that they will be as prolific as the Diamonds.