A small, slender dove, with a long tail. Size: 28cm (includes long tail) - slightly larger than a sparrow and smaller than a laughing dove.Afr: Namakwaduifie

The smallest dove in South Africa, this is the only dove with a long tail. The bill is short, slender and appears pointed. The bill of the male is yellow or orange-yellow, and that of the female is blackish. The legs and feet are purple.

This dove is unique among it's families in that the males and females have very different plumage. The male has a black face and breast the rest of the underparts are whitish. The upperparts are grey, and the tail is long and graduated. The female has a plain grey head and grey-white chin.

The Namaqua dove is a common species of the drier bushveld, farming areas and semi-desert habitats. It is usually seen in pairs or small groups, and tends to forage on bare ground.

The call is a quiet 2 syllabled hooting, the first short note, lower in pitch than the second drawn out note: duh-whooooo.

The Namaqua Dove breeds all year round, but especially after rains. The nest is a small saucer of twigs, grass stems and rootlets; usually less than 1.5m above the ground in a low bush.