This year marks the first time I've seen a Collared dove - also called a Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) - in our area. This one (on the right) just showed up under our bird feeder a few days ago. The Mourning dove (on the left - which we're all used to), seems to be just as curious about the newcomer as I was. Though I didn't see it grabbing the bird book to figure out what it was. It just watched for awhile, then went back to eating.
With a little reading (thank you, Wikipedia), I found out that the collared dove is native to Eurasia (imagine that!) and was introduced into the Americas in 1974, when 50 escaped captivity in the Bahamas. Since then, it has done a bang-up job of spreading throughout North America and Mexico.
So, I expect they're here to stay - especially since I saw two of them under the feeder today!
Have you seen any around, yet?
With a little reading (thank you, Wikipedia), I found out that the collared dove is native to Eurasia (imagine that!) and was introduced into the Americas in 1974, when 50 escaped captivity in the Bahamas. Since then, it has done a bang-up job of spreading throughout North America and Mexico.
So, I expect they're here to stay - especially since I saw two of them under the feeder today!
Have you seen any around, yet?
