Absurdities #4

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