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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Columbidae
  4. ›
  5. Chalcophaps
  6. ›
  7. Common Emerald Dove
Common Emerald Dove
Photo · (c) ian_mcallan, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Common Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica(Linnaeus, 1758)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: Least ConcernOrigin: Native
Order
COLUMBIFORMES
Family
Columbidae
Genus
Chalcophaps

At a glance

The Common Emerald Dove is a medium-sized bird, about 23–28 cm long, listed as Least Concern and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
23–28 cm
Conservation status
Least Concern
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Very common
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Common Emerald Dove look like?

The Common Emerald Dove is a medium-sized bird, about 23–28 cm long and weighing 110–160 g.

The emerald dove or common emerald dove, also called Asian emerald dove and grey-capped emerald dove, is a widespread resident breeding pigeon native to the tropical and subtropical parts of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The dove is also known by the names of green dove and green-winged pigeon. The common emerald dove is the state bird of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The Pacific emerald dove and Stephan's emerald dove were both considered conspecific.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
23–28 cm
Weight
110–160 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Common Emerald Dove?

The Common Emerald Dove is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Common Emerald Dove eat?

The Common Emerald Dove feeds on seeds, fallen fruits and and occasionally small invertebrates..

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

5 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Common Emerald Dove live in Australia?

The Common Emerald Dove is native to Australia, recorded across 28 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingOR, AU : India and Sri Lanka east of south-east China, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesian Arch. and Raja Ampat Is. (north-west of New Guinea)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding
  • Vagrant
  • Non-breeding
  • Passage

8 regions recorded