African Mourning Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

This is a common dove in much of Kenya and northern Tanzania. This particular individual was enjoying a spray of water which had been set up outside our room at Samburu Serena Lodge. it was making sure it had a thorough shower by lying on each side in turn, lifting its wing and washing its oxters*!
 
* properly called "axillary feathers"

The Mourning Dove is named after its mournful call, which is often heard. Although its plumage is similar to Ring-necked Dove and Red-eyed Dove, it can be distinguised from these species by its pale, creamy-yellow eyes with salmon-pink orbital ring.
The out-of-focus bird in the foreground is a Grey-headed Sparrow, Passer griseus.