Barbary dove
The barbary dove has an established population in metropolitan South Australia.
It is illegal to release barbary doves in South Australia under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019.
Background
The barbary dove originated from sub-Saharan Africa and is kept in captivity in Australia. It is an invasive species that has become established in many countries.
A wild population exists in the Northern Territory, and breeding birds have been detected in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.
There is a small but established population in the Adelaide metropolitan region.
Impacts
Barbary doves are a serious pest bird that:
- damage cereal crops
- compete with native bird species.
Identification
The barbary dove has sandy or creamy-buff plumage. At times, the bird may appear to have a mauve-pink tinge. The neck and head are paler, and the flanks are pale grey. A narrow black half-collar wraps around the back of the neck.
Domestic forms of the dove may vary slightly from this colouration and may not have the black half-collar.
The introduced lace-neck dove and laughing dove are sometimes mistaken for the barbary dove.