About Geopelia placida Gould, 1844
This species, the peaceful dove (Geopelia placida Gould, 1844), is a relatively small pigeon, measuring between 19 and 21 centimetres (7.6 to 8.4 inches) in length. It has a pink-grey breast, paired with chequered grey-brown wings. Thin black striations are present around the neck and nape, and extend down the back. Its eye is greyish-white, surrounded by a blue-grey ring that tapers to connect with the beak and cere. Juvenile peaceful doves are paler, have fewer striations, and also show a duller eye ring. Like the related bar-shouldered dove, the peaceful dove has striated nape feathers. However, the bar-shouldered dove lacks the striated throat feathers seen in this species, and the nape of bar-shouldered doves is a vivid copper colour, while the peaceful dove's nape feathers are grey-brown. Peaceful doves produce high-pitched calls, described as "doodle-doo", "co-co-coo", and "croorrr!". The species is found across most of Australia, excluding Tasmania, southern Victoria, and southwestern Australia. Its range is currently decreasing due to competition with the introduced spotted turtle dove. On the island of New Guinea (referred to here as Papua), the species occurs mainly in the southern part of the island, but can also be found at a small number of sites in the north, as well as on the Aru Islands.
