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11

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Alternate name(s): "Collared Dove", "Eurasian Collared-Dove" German name(s): "Türkentaube" Size: 30-33 cm; wing span 47-55 cm Weight: 125-240 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eurasian Collared Doves are medium-sized, slender doves. The separation of the sexes is usually easiest by studying their behaviour, rather than by appearance/morphology. Their plumage is almost uniformly pale buff-grey (head, front, tail). The back is a fraction darker buff-grey, with a white leading edge on the wings and black flight feathers. Their most distinguishing feature is a white-edged black bar at the nape of the neck. The irises are dark. The bill is grey; the legs and feet are pinkish-grey. Nominate race "decaocto" has white skin around the eyes, while race "xanthocyclus" has yellow-skinned eye-rings. Juveniles do not have a well-defined collar and their irises are brown.

Taxonomy, classification See Eurasian Collared Dove at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the ebird.org website. The global distribution of the Eurasian Collared Dove is available HERE . There are two races of Eurasian Collared Doves, which are not migratory, but highly dispersive (and thereby in suitable habitats also invasive). Nominate race "decaocto" has the widest range. Originally they were found in Eurasia from Turkey eastward, in parts of the Middle East, northern Arabia, through central southern Asia into the Indian subcontinent and on to Bhutan and Assam and the Andaman Islands. From central Asia they are also found along the northern side of the Himalayas, all the way through northern China onto the Korean peninsula. In the West of their range they have colonized since the 19th century the northern African coastline and all of Europe, from Portugal to the Ural mountains and from the Mediterranian to southern Scandinavia, ALL of Europe (except the highest mountain ranges [Alps, Pyrenees, Apennine Mountains]). Race "xanthocyclus" populates south-eastern Asia, from Myanmar to southern China. There is also a large introduced population in North and Central America. In Europe, Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", are found anywhere outside the highest mountain ranges (Alps, Pyrenees, Appennin), except central and northern Scandinavia. They are present on the outer Atlantic islands (Faeroes, Hebrides) and, except for the Baleares, also on the Mediterranean islands. There is one small area on the northern Norwegian coast where they are also present. Eurasian Collared Doves are very versatile in their choice of habitat, as long as there are shrubs or trees available for nesting and seeds to feed on. They are very tolerant of the presence of humans (they can become hand-tame) and most nests are found close to human habitation. We have seen them in both urban environments and in acacia-dominated semi-desert country.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "decaocto" D. Wilczynska reports spotting Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", regularly in and around Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, where they are permanent residents. In the past, we have also seen them in various parts of Germany. Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", were occasionally seen by us in Oman in 2009/2010.

Photos

Race "decaocto"

ADULT

Frontal view of an Eurasian Collared Dove (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Near-frontal view of an Eurasian Collared Dove (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, February 2017]

Pair of Eurasian Collared Doves (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Collared Dove (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Collared Dove; note the characteristic collar (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Collared Dove on the ground (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Collared Dove (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Collared Dove (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, January 2016]

Near-dorsal view of an Eurasian Collared Dove (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Ostrow Mazowiecka, Masovia, Poland, December 2015]

Photos of Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", were also taken by us in in Oman.

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jan - Dec

Eggs: 2

Incubation period: 14 - 18

Fledging age: 15 - 19

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Given an ample food supply, Eurasian Collared Doves in the southern parts of their range can breed any time of the year. In the northern parts they will not breed during the coldest months. Eurasian Collared Doves normally have 3-4 broods per season, with up to 6 broods possible. They have a strong preference for nest sites close to (within 1 km of) human habitation, where food tends to be abundant. The female incubates at nighttime, the male during the day.

Nest

Type: Basket

Material: Twigs

Height above ground: 1 - 3? m

Eurasian Collared Dove on its nest; at daytime this is most likely the cock (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2018]

Eggs

Size: 29 x 22 mm

Colour: Glossy white

Shape: Elliptical

Food, Diet

Like all pigeons and doves, Eurasian Collared Doves are strictly vegetarian. To the best of our knowledge they feed exclusively on seeds.

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

The specific name "decaocto" (=18) reflects the fact that Eurasian Collared Doves regularly use 6 sequences of 3 "coo" calls, i.e. 6x "coo-COO-coo".

eurcdov_dw_20160915.m4a

decaocto (Central Poland)

Contact calls

© DW

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