11

Eurasian Collared Dove

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

Similar species

Description

Classification

Distribution

Sightings

Photos

Breeding

Nest

Eggs

Behaviour

Food

Call/s

Physical description

Click here for physical description of this species 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, 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

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.

On the Arabian peninsula Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", are found only in the border region of Jordan with Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia with Iraq, Kuwait, a small patch in Bahrain and Qatar, and along the north coast from the western base of Musandam in the UAE eastward along the North coast of Oman to about Sur.

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

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Race "decaocto"

Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", were occasionally seen by us on the Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, where they were spotted in the timeframe September 2009 to April 2010. In nature they tend to be very shy; in open semi-desert terrain they will fly up when an observer approaches them at distances of almost 100 m.

Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", were also found in Europe.

Photos

Race "decaocto"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of an Eurasian Collared Dove
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Lateral view of an Eurasian Collared Dove
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

The same Eurasian Collared Dove as above, with its head turned
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Pair of Eurasian Collared Doves hiding low in an acacia
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Eurasian Collared Dove up in a tree
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

The same Eurasian Collared Dove as above, stretching
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Pair of Eurasian Collared Doves
[Campus of Sultan Qaboos University, near Muscat, April 2010]

Pair of Eurasian Collared Doves in flight

Eurasian Collared Dove with maximum flaps and reverse throttle in its final approach for landing

Covey of Eurasian Collared Doves on an irrigator; photo obtained at Sun Farms, Sohar (Batinah region). Special permission to enter the premises for bird photography is hereby most gratefully acknowledged

Additional information

More photos of Eurasian Collared Doves, race "decaocto", were taken in Europe.

Food, Diet

As 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_20190804.m4a	decaocto (Poland)	Contact calls (with Eurasian Golden Oriole)	© DW
eurcdov_dw_20160915.m4a	decaocto (Poland)	Contact calls	© DW

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