The lemon dove (Columba larvata, sometimes Aplopelia larvata), also called the cinnamon dove, is an African dove of montane forests in sub-Saharan Africa, where it lives at altitudes of up to 3,000 metres. Unlike most species in its genus, it lives mainly on the ground.
The Origin Of Lemon Doves
Lemon doves are from the Columbidae family (opens in new tab).
Most authorities place them in the genus Columba as Columba larvata, though some use the older name Aplopelia larvata.
You may also hear their other name: cinnamon doves.
Lemon doves are different from other Columba genus species, though, because of their terrestrial habits.
Hearing their name, you’d probably think they’re called that because they love lemons.
However, it’s more complicated than that.
The first Dutch settlers in South Africa used to refer to oranges by “lemoen.”
They found out that lemon doves come from forests to their orange trees, searching for food.
Therefore, they named lemon doves after the “lemoen” trees (orange trees).
Where Do Lemon Doves Live?
Lemon doves commonly live near the Southern African coast.
They spend most of their time in indigenous forests.
Additionally, a lot of them linger in isolated areas in southern sub-Saharan Africa forests.
Lemon doves are found in southern and eastern South Africa and northwards through the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe and Mozambique into East Africa.
They are also found in parts of West and Central Africa.
They mainly feed on fallen fruit and seeds, so they therefore favor the Afromontane regions.
How Rare Are Lemon Doves?
According to the IUCN (opens in new tab)Red List, lemon doves aren’t among the highly threatened species in the world.
The IUCN lists them as Least Concern because they have a very large range.
Their total numbers have not been counted, but they are not thought to be close to the thresholds for a threatened species.
In general, cinnamon doves are common in specific regions and rare in others.
For example, they’re not rare above 1300m in Nguu North Forest Reserve in Tanzania.
On the other hand, it’s rare to see them in lower areas.
You can spot them more frequently in near-coastal South Africa.
Lemons Doves Preferred Environment
As a forest-dwelling species, the lemon dove lives in bushes of evergreen forests.
Consequently, it rummages around lowland forests and leaf litter to find food.
On top of that, cinnamon doves tend to settle in moist, rural gardens and tropical forests in Africa.
They also usually drink at woodland streams.
That’s why they stay in wooded lands often.
Nesting Habitat
As for lemon doves’ nesting habitat, they usually build their nests low down, often 1 to 6 metres up in a shrub, small tree or creeper.
Dense cover helps to hide their nests from predators.
They’ll usually look for dense green foliage and branches to hide their nests.
Lemon Doves Appearance
The lemon dove is a dark medium-sized breed that has a pale face.
A cinnamon dove has a tail with pale gray corners.
It also has red feet, piercing red eyes, and orbital skin. Its bill is blackish and short, with a slight curve at the tip.
| Wingspan | Length | Weight | Coloring | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average Lemon Dove | 30 – 38cm | 24 – 30cm | 81.7 – 150g | Cinnamon brown or greenish with white marks on the head |
| Average Feral Pigeon | 64 – 72cm | 32 – 37cm | 300 – 500g | Bluish grey with some black |
Most of these birds have a pale face and throat, a bronze-glossed back and a grey crown.
It’s worth noting, though, that the appearance of cinnamon doves varies geographically.
The ones living in Eastern and Southern African ones have red underparts.
As for western and central African doves, their underparts are gray.
Concerning color, it differs according to the sex of a lemon dove.
Female lemon doves have a cinnamon-brown breast and brownish-gray plumage.
Their faces also have gray marks.
Males have greenish and glossed necks.
Lemon Dove Behavior
The lemon dove is completely harmless to humans.
Like other doves, it is often seen as a symbol of peace.
There is no record of it being used to carry messages, which is a job for homing pigeons.
Lemon doves feed on insects, seeds, mollusks, and berries.
They forage in leaf litter, either solitarily or in pairs.
These birds are also shy, it is rare to notice their presence.
Lemon doves tend to build their nests using rootlets, twigs, and forest pine needles.
These doves usually hide their nests in dense undergrowth to protect their little ones from attackers.
Furthermore, they communicate using their voice like any other common ground dove.
Their call is a low, deep hoot, often repeated.
Are There Other Pigeon Breeds Similar Or Related To Lemon Doves?
The answer is yes; however, they have some differences.
For example, ring-necked and African mourning doves share some similarities with lemon doves.
As for ring-necked doves, they have brownish-grey plumage and live in African and woodlands like lemon doves.
Both lemon doves and ring-necked doves feed on insects and seeds.
The females of the two pigeons lay off-white eggs and build their nests in trees.
What’s more, both African mourning doves and cinnamon doves live in parts of southern Africa.
However, lemon doves are distinctive in their terrestrial habits and colors.
Can You Domesticate Lemon Doves?
Lemon doves are loving and peaceful.
They are rarely seen in captivity outside specialist collections.
It’s not common to keep cinnamon doves as a pet.
They are shy forest birds that are best left in the wild.
Wild birds should never be taken from the wild, and in many countries it is illegal to do so.
Conclusion
Now, by knowing the peculiar features of lemon doves, you can easily identify them.
If you spotted a lemon dove in your garden, know that you’re lucky!
You’ll get to enjoy a beautiful view.
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Types