Eurasian Collared-Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Introduced into the Bahamas in the mid-1970s, the Eurasian Collared-Dove is now established throughout the southeastern United States and has been seen across the continent. Its spread across North America is still an evolving story, and the extent of its final range and the impact it will have on other bird species remains to be seen.

Interesting Information

  • The Eurasian Collared-Dove has spread rapidly across much of North America. It made a similar expansion across Europe in the 1900s. It is thought that the species occurred historically only in and around India, and that a massive expansion in the 1600s brought it into Turkey and the Balkans.

  • The Eurasian Collared-Dove is often kept as a pet. The occurrence of the species in some areas of the United States can be traced not to the dispersal of wild breeders, but to escaped or released cage birds.

  • The domesticated Ringed Turtle-Dove is similar to the Eurasian Collared-Dove, and it frequently escapes or is released from captivity. The occurrence of the first Eurasian Collared-Doves in the United States went unnoticed for quite a while because of confusion with feral Ringed Turtle-Doves. The two species occasionally hybridize in wild populations.

Description

Adult Description

Length Range: 28-33 cm (11-13 in)

Weight: 153 g (5.4 oz)

Size: Medium (9 - 16 in)

Medium-sized bird; large dove.

Sandy gray body and head with black half-collar on back of neck.

Medium-long square tail.

Sex Differences

Sexes Similar

Immature

Juvenile similar to adult, but has reddish edges to body feathers, brown eyes, and brownish red legs.

 

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

© 2003 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Habitat

Found in urban, suburban, and agricultural areas where grain is available.

Behavior

Feeds mostly on ground.

Food

Seeds and cereal grain; some insects.

 

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
     Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
    Subfamily: Columbinae
Genus: Streptopelia
Species: Streptopelia decaocto
    Subspecies: Streptopelia decaocto decaocto
  Streptopelia decaocto xanthocycla

Similar Species

  • Mourning Dove has pointed tail with white outer tail feathers, and a spot, not a collar on its neck.

  • Domesticated Ringed Turtle-Dove similar, but has white undertail coverts, no black on underside of tail feathers, and is paler.

  • White-winged Dove has large white patch in wing, a black band above the white tail tip, and has a teardrop-shaped spot on face.

  • Introduced Spotted Dove is darker, and has a broad collar of black and white spots on back of neck.

Bird Sound

"hoo-hoooo-hoo", "krreeeew", "hwaah", "krreair"

Eggs look like this

Photo taken from: ARCTOS Collaborative Collection Management Solution