By Eilene Lyon
I get tickled every time I read this species description for the Eurasian Collared-Dove in my National Geographic bird guide: “…do not do well in the wild” they claim.
From Project FeederWatch: “No species of bird has colonized North America at the speed with which the Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) has marched across the continent.”
Captive birds released in Bermuda established a breeding colony in Florida in 1982. From there, they have spread in a northwesterly direction, and are now found in nearly every state, even Alaska. Sounds like they’re doing pretty well in the wild to me! I wonder if they might someday rival the flocks of the extinct passenger pigeon?
In Colorado it’s always open season on collared doves. Squab for dinner, anyone?
Feature image: © Ryan Schain – Macaulay Library
Sources:
Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Third Edition. National Geographic, Washington, D.C. p. 236.
Project FeederWatch: https://feederwatch.org/blog/eurasian-collared-doves-conquering-america/
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_collared_dove
The ones in my alley have no complaints! 🙂
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They’re everywhere! They’re everywhere!
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https://www.denverpost.com/2014/02/24/invasive-doves-colonize-colorado-and-overshadow-good-doves/
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Excellent article! I work with Lynn sometimes and wrote some species accounts for the Atlas.
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How cool!!
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