The distinctive feature of Ring-necked doves is the half collar of dark feathers around the back of the neck. This stands out from the rest of the feathers which are paler, dull tones of grey and brown, with shades of lavender on the back of the neck. The feathers on the under side of the body are even lighter, those on the lower part and around the vent being white. The tail feathers, like those of related species, are slate grey with white fringes and conspicuous white tips. The tail pattern is particularly noticeable during the display flight. There is considerable variation in the color the tail feathers among individual birds, with some having light tail feathers and others almost black.
Males and females look alike, although the males are slightly bigger. They measure 25–26.5 cm (9.8–10.4 in) in length and weigh 92–188 g (3.2–6.6 oz). The eyes are almost black, the bill is black and the feet are dark purple. An immature is duller and lacks the semi-collar of an adult. It also has buff edges to all the upper part and wing covert feathers, while the plumage below is broadly edged greyish-white.
There are six subspecies which vary in their overall color, northern subspecies being darker. Steptopelia capicola somalica lives fin Ethiopia, Somaliand, Somalia, and Tanzania.
Diet: Ring-necked doves feed mainly on seeds (of grasses and cereal grains), but they also eat broken fruit and berries, and insects on occasion (earthworms, termites, weevils and other).
Habitat: Ring-necked doves are usually found alone or in pairs, although they do form larger flocks around roosts or sources of food and water. They roost in treetops during the night and forage for food on the ground by day. Peak foraging times are early morning and late afternoon. They drink mainly in the morning. When they walk on the ground, their heads bob back and forth with each small step