The Eurasian Collared-Dove ( Streptopelia decaocto ) is a dove species native to Europe and Asia. The "hoo-HOOOO-hoo" of the Eurasian Collared-Dove has become so commonplace in much of the Northern Hemisphere as to almost pass unnoticed, and yet few people recognize the amazing history of this species. From its original range, largely in India and nearby China, it has spread over much of the Northern Hemisphere in the last few centuries, with much of the expansion occurring in the last 100 years. During the 20th century, this pale dove expanded its range spectacularly from the Middle East all the way across Europe. Accidentally introduced in 1974 into the Bahamas, it soon spread to the mainland in Florida. Its expansion westward and northward from there since the 1980s has been remarkable, and the species is now common to abundant across much of North America, as far northwest as Oregon and Washington.
Eurasian Collared-Dove Identification
Eurasian-collared doves have solid gray/brown feathers everywhere except for a black half ring that’s on the back of their necks. They have plump bodies, small heads, and long tails. They’re larger than Mourning Doves but slimmer and longer-tailed than a Rock Pigeon. The wings are broad and slightly rounded. Eurasian Collared-Doves are chalky light brown to gray-buff birds with broad white patches in the tail. The bird’s collar is a narrow black crescent around the nape of the neck.
If you live in this species’ range but haven’t yet identified it, take a second look at your Mourning Doves: look for the collared-dove’s prominent white patches in the tail, dark-tipped wings, and the black collar at the nape of the neck, as well as the overall chunkier size. The collared-dove’s mournful koo-KOO-kook call is shorter, more impatient, and more frequent than that of the Mourning Dove.
Habitat and Range
The original range of this bird was warmer temperate regions across southeastern Europe and Japan. However, during the twentieth century, it extended across all of Europe, by 1953 reaching Great Britain, and Ireland soon after. Now it also breeds in Scandinavia.
In the 1970s it was introduced into the Bahamas, and to Florida in the 1980s, and has gradually colonized the North American continent. Eurasian Collared-Doves are found throughout much of North America in urban and suburban settings with access to bird feeders and other seed sources. In agricultural areas they seek open sites where grain is available, including farmyards, fields, and areas around silos. Though evidence is mixed, they appear to avoid areas with heavy forest cover or extremely cold temperatures, which may help explain their absence from the Northeast.
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General Feeding Habits
Eurasian collared doves do not migrate and live in towns and cities, in urban gardens and parks. These diurnal doves are often to be seen in pairs, perched close to each other on a branch, or foraging on the ground. They feed on the ground but may visit bird feeders in winter, especially those with sunflower seeds.
When not breeding, usually forages in flocks. Forages mostly while walking on the ground. Although Eurasian collared doves will feed peacefully in flocks of mixed birds, they may also chase off other species, including Mourning doves, Blue jays, and cardinals.
Specific Dietary Components
Eurasian Collared-Doves eat mainly seed and cereal grain such as millet, sunflower, milo, wheat, and corn. They also eat some berries and green parts of plants, as well as invertebrates.
Eurasian collared doves are herbivorous, primarily granivorous and frugivorous. They mainly eat seeds from grasses and cereals, but also eat buds, berries, fruits, insects, and other invertebrates. Diet in North America not yet well known. In Europe, feeds on waste grain of many cultivated crops, also seeds of many plants; eats some berries and small insects, rarely snails.
Concerns about Invasive Status and Impact on Native Species
Eurasian-collared doves are invasive across North America, particularly from southern Canada through central Mexico. They don’t migrate, so they stay in the same area year-round. People accidentally introduced the doves to new areas after some escaped a pet store in the Bahamas in the 1970s. They bred rapidly and spread across other areas of North America shortly after. The first documented evidence of them breeding in Florida occurred in 1982. Now, they’re common across most of the continent.
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Invasive species commonly compete with native animals by taking food and nesting spots. The invasive animals need these items to survive just like any other creature, but as a result, they end up taking away essentials from native animals. Eurasian-collared doves compete with many similar birds, such as other doves, which can cause the population of those species to decline if they don’t get enough resources. Not only do these birds take resources from native birds, but they may also act aggressively toward native species. People have observed these invasive birds scaring away smaller birds from feeding areas. If you have a bird feeder outside, they may become territorial and prevent native birds from accessing that food.
These birds can be pests in agricultural areas. If they find a farm growing grains, they may feed on the seeds and damage the crops. They eat a wide variety of seeds, including wheat, corn, and millet. Since there are so many native species already eating seeds in the wild and at feeders, Eurasian-collared doves will eat seeds wherever they can find them, which isn’t always ideal.
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