Eurasian Collared-Dove
What's in a name? What does it look like? What does it sound like? How does it behave? Where does it live? Cool facts Adult Eurasian Collared-Dove perched on a wire.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?	TOP
Common name Eurasian Collared-Dove Scientific name Streptopelia decaocto Spanish names Tórtola Turca French names Tourterelle turque "Family" Tree (Taxonomy) Order Columbiformes Family Columbidae
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?	TOP
Description stocky, medium-sized bird long, square tail pale-brown to gray-brown thin black collar located on neck black bill legs and feet are grayish-purple male and female similar juveniles similar to adults, but have reddish breasts Size 11 - 12 inches. Stocky, medium-sized for a dove, long tail Similar species Often confused with similar Ringed Turtle-Dove, a common household bird. One way to tell them apart is by their song. Inca Dove and Common Ground-Dove are much smaller and have chestnut markings on their wings; Mourning Doves have longer necks, and have pointed tails with more white at edges. White-winged Dove is about the same size, but it has white patches on its wings.
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE?	TOP
To play this sound you will need to have Realplayer installed. To get Realplayer click here.
Sounds provided by the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds.
HOW DOES IT BEHAVE?	TOP
What does it eat? seeds, grains, berries, and some small bugs Where does it eat? ground (below bird feeders), elevated bird feeders Who eats it? In North America, known flying predators include Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Short-tailed Hawk. Also, eaten by household cats. Nesting 2 white, smooth, slightly glossy eggs. Nests are located in areas where humans live, usually in trees but occasionally on buildings. Will use a variety of trees and shrubs for nesting sites. Incubation (sitting on/warming eggs) lasts for about 15 days. It is done by both parents, with female sitting on nest through night and male sitting on nest in the early morning for about 8 hours.
WHERE DOES IT LIVE?	TOP
Range Eurasian Collared-Doves were brought into the Bahamas in the 1970s; in the 1980s, they expanded, without human assistance, to Florida and have expanded across the U.S. Outside of the Americas, breeding range covers much of Europe and Asia, from Finland to India, west to Portugal and east to China. Habitat Suburbs, small towns, agricultural areas. Not found far from human habitations and agriculture, where food and roost sites are available. CLICK ON THE MAP TO ENLARGE. (includes North and South America)
COOL FACTS	TOP
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. Click here to see an animated map showing spread of Eurasian Collared-Doves 1999-2003. The Eurasian Collared-Dove is often kept as a pet. Owners sometime release the bird into the wild, which may result in further expansion. Nest building usually done by female with male gathering material. Male gives excitement calls while bringing female nest material; on arrival pair gives nest calls and billing occurs. Male may push nesting materials directly under female. Female gives nest call while building nest. Build nest during daylight hours; usually takes 1-3 days. Nest materials include twigs, stems, roots, and grasses. Use of feathers, wool, string, and wire reported. Pair often renests in same nest and may occasionally renew old nests from year to year. To feed their young, adult Eurasian Collared-Doves first chew the food. Then they allow for the juveniles to eat from their beak. The Eurasian Collared-Dove is very similar to the Ringed Turtle-Dove in several ways. One way to tell them apart is by listening to their songs. Can feed peacefully with other species, but large numbers at feeding areas often discourage visits from other species, and aggressive interactions have been observed. Reported to tolerate nesting of House Sparrow, House Finch, and Loggerhead Shrike near or in same nest tree. Adult flushes readily from nest when disturbed by predators. Nesting doves drive away corvids, also deliver blows with wing to humans. Defends nestlings with injury-feigning distraction display. Young remain immobile to avoid detection by predators. Since Eurasian Collared-Doves have lived in North America for only a short time, little is known about their ecology on the continent. Numerous questions need to be answered, such as: - How do they survive in harsh winters? - What do they eat? - Will they become pests? - How successful is their breeding? - What habitats do they use? - Are they affecting native species? - Where are they moving in North America? You can help scientists answer some of these questions just by counting any doves or pigeons you see. - It's easy and fun to participate in Dove Detectives! Check it out! Read more about Eurasian Collared-Doves at All About Birds.

Sources used to contruct this page: Romagosa, C. M. 2002. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto). In The Birds of North America, No. 630 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

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