Description: Head, neck, breast, and wing coverts are an attractive soft slate-gray, at times lightly shaded with brown. Back and shoulders are dark brown. The wings and shoulders are dotted with white spots, each edged narrowly in black (hence, the name Diamond Dove).

Size: Longer rather than short, about 7 inches in length.

General Conditions: Since the little dove is a very fast flyer, it should have, when on a perch or floor, a racy, streamlined and alert look. Feathering should be smooth and tight over the entire body. Clean plumage. Lively behavior.

Eyes: Bright red or orange red, with an orange cere.

Beak: Rather long, pale brownish in silvers and blackish in blues.

Legs and Feet: Pink in color and clean.

Tail: The four long middle feathers are brown gray; the next pair are white tipped. No feathers missing.

Female: In the female, the gray parts in the male are shaded with more brown. Her eye cere is much paler orange. Slightly smaller in size. Does not coo.

Note: So-called silver Diamond Doves are much lighter colored overall, and white Diamond Doves show almost no wing spots.

New Colors: The following color mutations have been adopted as accepted colors: Blue (natural color), silver, brilliant, cinnamon, rufous, yellow, and white rump.