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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Speckled Pigeon
Song
Soft, gentle five-note cooing; pure melodic notes with classic quality carrying across open European terrain.
Afep Pigeon
Song
Deep, resonant cooing; rich notes with carrying quality through dense humid African forest. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
Speckled Pigeon
Least Concern
Afep Pigeon
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Speckled Pigeon
Plumage
Speckled Pigeon: gray with rufous wing speckling; bare red orbital skin; white spots on wings; dark tail band; African species
Afep Pigeon
Plumage
Afep Pigeon: pale gray; white neck gloss; dark flight feathers; large size; Central African rainforest pigeon; pale overall
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea) — 36–41 cm. Grey with chestnut-brown wings boldly spotted white; bare red orbital skin; pinkish underparts. Widespread in rocky areas, cliffs, and open country across sub-Saharan Africa. Granivore; common urban bird; nests on buildings and cliffs.
Afep Pigeon (Columba unicincta) — 36–40 cm. Large; dark grey; single narrow black ring on hindneck; pale grey rump. Inhabits canopy of rainforest in West and Central Africa. Frugivore; feeds on forest fruits. Poorly known; an upper-canopy species seldom studied at close range.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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