Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Hamlin, Monroe Co., NY, 16 June 2002.

All pictures were taken by my son Jay and me and are © Kevin J. McGowan.  They were taken with an Olympus D-40 digital camera through a Swarovski HD-80 spotting scope.

Click on the images for a lager version.

Both a White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) and a Eurasian Collared-Dove were discovered in the same area at the intersection of Walker-Lake Ontario and Churchs Rds (about two miles south of the Lake Ontario Parkway) in the Town of Hamlin, Monroe County, NY.  They were frequenting a farm just north of Church Rd. on the east side of the road (just north of the old schoolhouse on the corner of Church Rd). Both were reported to sing repeatedly and move around a small area right near the road, often landing in the evergreens and deciduous trees right along the road, as well as the power lines attached to a pole set back away from the road by the driveway.

Jay and I were able to find only the Eurasian Collared-Dove, but we got good looks at it. 

Slightly larger than  Mourning Dove, the collared-dove showed a fairly long, broad, square-tipped tail.  The bases of the tail feathers were black and the tips of all but the middle two were white (middle two tan).  The undertail coverts were light gray. 

Note the gray undertail coverts.  Although not dark, they are noticeably darker than the white-tipped tail feathers.  Note that two rectrices are missing (L 1 and 2).

The overall color was a pale tan, with lighter edging around the back feathers.  The wingtips, while not dark, were darker than the rest of the wing.  A prominent black collar, outlined in white, was present at the rear base of the neck. 

The eye was dark red or reddish brown.  The skin around the eye was greenish gray.   The small bill was dark.

The feet were reddish, but not bright.

The bird had long rounded wings, quite different in shape from either Morning Doves or Rock Doves.  It soared often while moving from calling perch to calling perch.

The dove called frequently, puffing out its neck to do so.  The call was a soft, resonant "coo-COO-coo, coo-COO-coo," given repeatedly.  For a bad wav file of the calls of this bird, click here (32 kb, taken with the Olympus D-40 digital camera).

When moving a short distance from a conceal perch to another one, the dove made a deeper, growling call.

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Revised: April 06, 2005.