Distinctive odd dove (hybrid or leucistic Namaqua?) Sudan) (1 Viewer)

[tomjenner]

I was on Tuti Island in Khartoum today with Chris Wood and we saw this very odd looking dove. Our initial thought was that it was a leucistic Namaqua Dove, as the shape is correct and it had rufous in the wings in flight. The general colouring and patterning look like they are natural colouring, rather than leucistic, but the white in the tail was the thing that most made it look like it might be leucistic. However, the one feature that does not fit a leucistic Namaqua Dove is the big red orbital ring. Could this be a hybrid, and if so what would it be crossed with? Another possibility is that there might be domesticated versions of Namaqua Doves, though I have never heard of them. I have looked through the books and can't find any other dove species that look like this, but are there any I have missed?
Any comments would be appreciated.

Tom

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Looks like a Diamond Dove, an Australian species. Not quite a perfect match, but it is a popular cagebird, so odd varieties may have been bred in captivity.

http://www.justbirds.it/Australia/Diamond dove.htm

James

 

[screaming piha]

Hi Tom

Not too many things look like a Namaqua Dove. My guess is a leucistic juvenile Namaqua.

John

PS I think I owe you about 1,000,000 emails. How are things?

EDIT: James may have a point and you are not far from the Middle East and all those escapes...

 

[tomjenner]

Thanks James. It appears to be a Diamond Dove. Wild birds seem to be browner above, but there are several photos on the internet of captive birds that look just like our bird today.

Mind you, if the UK can have wild Scarlet Tanager, Siberian Rubythroat and Rufous-tailed Robin in the same week, there must be a reasonable chance of an Australian bird turning up in the middle of Khartoum! Which way have the winds been blowing over Australia recently?

Tom

p.s. Hi John, I will count this post as one, so now you only owe me 999,999.

 

[Azzy]

Agree with diamond dove, just an aviary variety. Probably an escapee.