Bird Gallery Index

Eurasian Collared-Dove image © David McDonald

Family: (Columbidae) Pigeons and Doves

Preferred Habitat: Urban and suburban areas. Very common on the coast.

Seasonal Occurrence: Common permanent resident.

Notes: Eurasian Collared-Doves were introduced from Europe in the 1970s and are now rapidly spreading throughout the United States. They hybridize with African Collared-Doves (formerly called Ringed Turtle-Doves) and are difficult to distinguish. But since Eurasian Collared-Doves are so much more common, they are the safer bet. Comparision of Eurasian Collared-Dove and African Collared-Dove on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site. Read more about the expansion of the Eurasian Collared Dove on the BirdSource web site. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology also sponsors Dove Detectives, a study-watch of doves and pigeons. The Houston Bird Survey on the Houston Audubon web site has more information and a distribution map.
- Susan Billetdeaux