The native range of the Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata) extends from southern Burma through Malaysia to Sumatra and Java. It has been widely introduced elsewhere, however, and in some regions it is uncertain whether it is native or introduced (e.g., in Borneo, the Philippines, Bali, and Lombok). Apparently populations are well established in Thailand, Borneo, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Tahiti, the Hawaiian Islands, St. Helena, Madagascar, and the Seychelles.
These slender, long-tailed doves are found in a range of open habitats with some bushes or trees, including dry woodland, scrubland, agricultural areas, gardens, and cities. Zebra Doves are generally restricted to lowlands, but occur up to 900 m on Sumatra. Their diet consists mainly of small seeds, with a small quantity of insects taken. They feed on the ground in pairs or small groups.
Zebra Doves are common throughout much of their range (very common on Sumatra). Most information on their biology and ecology has been gathered from introduced populations. They have sometimes been treated as conspecific (i.e., members of the same species) as the Peaceful Dove (G. placida) and the Barred Dove (G. maugei), but these three taxa (each of which has a distinct song), are now generally recognized as three distinct species.
Zebra Doves , although they are not kept as widely as the related Diamond Dove.
(Baptista et al. 1997 and references therein)
Rights Holder: Leo Shapiro
