Guwahati: In an unusual ornithological record, researchers have documented the Diamond Dove — a bird species native to Australia — in Assam for the first time, raising concerns over the growing footprint of exotic birds in India.
The sighting, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, reports two individuals observed on April 4, 2025, in the Runikhata Range of Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in Kokrajhar district.
Endemic to the arid and semi-arid landscapes of Australia, the Diamond Dove is globally listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The species does not occur naturally in South Asia.
The small, delicately built dove is distinguished by its long, pointed tail and striking sexual dimorphism. Males display pale blue-grey plumage with white-spotted wings, a chestnut wing patch, black-and-white tail, scarlet iris, and pink legs. Females are browner, with duller facial markings, while juveniles appear paler overall and finely barred.
Researchers Bibhash Sarkar, Bijay Basfore, Leons Mathew Abraham, and Dr Anjana Singha Naorem observed the birds foraging on the ground about 200 metres from a dried stream. Given the species’ restricted native range, the team concluded that the birds were almost certainly escapees or deliberate releases from captivity.
The Diamond Dove is widely bred in the global cage-bird trade due to its small size and ornamental appeal. A review of citizen science databases, including eBird and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), revealed scattered Indian records from Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and Punjab — all considered escapee sightings.
However, this marks the first confirmed report from Northeast India.
The study notes that India has also recorded escapees of other exotic birds such as the Blue-bellied Roller, Mute Swan, Japanese Quail, and Black Vulture in various states.
While many non-native birds fail to survive in the wild, repeated introductions increase the risk of establishment. The authors warn of potential competition with native species, zoonotic disease transmission, crop damage, and long-term ecological imbalance.
“There is a need for stricter regulation of the exotic bird trade and vigilant monitoring of non-native species,” said Bijay Basfore, one of the study’s authors.
With Sikhna Jwhwlao recently declared a national park, the unexpected appearance of an Australian dove highlights an emerging conservation challenge — the quiet spread of exotic species through the pet trade in biodiversity-rich regions like Assam.