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Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

Observation Eurasian Collared Doves

Shanae K Tanner
Animal Behavior
Salt Lake Community College

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

Introduction
Eurasian Collared Doves originated from the Indian subcontinent around the 1600s. they
made their way up into Asia and Europe, by 1955 they had made it into Great Britain. (Shalaway
(2014) p.1). The birds were introduced to the Bahamas in the early 1970s, from where they have
made their way up into Florida and into the Northern United States by the 1990s. Their name is
partly due to a dark straight mark across the back of its neck, better known as a collar. What are
the vocal and movement habits of the Eurasian Collared Doves, are they territorial or stay in one
place? Or do they migrate and roam all over. The intention is to observe these beautiful birds and
find out how they have made their way into the Northern United States.
The female and the male look identical, there are no distinguishing differences noticeable
and juveniles are similar to the adults. Both the female and male build the nest, which is built
like a platform and made from sticks and twigs. The male, can be found scouting for sticks and
delivering them to the female. Eurasian Collared Doves do not migrate; they can have 2-3 broods
per year. The female will lay 3-5 eggs that are a plain creamy white color, there are no markings
on the eggs. The egg incubation period is between 12-14 days, during which at this time, the
female and male will alternate sitting on the eggs, until they hatch. Once hatched they are fed by
both the female and male for about 12-14 days, at which time they should be ready to fledge.
The Collared Dove mainly feeds on seeds, because of this they tend to hang around
homes and farms where they can forage from bird feeders and additional seeds left behind from
spills on farmland etc. Collared doves have been found not to have much of a problem sharing
food. They will feed, among mixed flocks, but they also have the tendency to chase off other
birds, for example Mourning Doves. (all about birds). According to Steven E. Hayslette, Doves
do not husk seeds before swallowing this isnt quite understood, mainly for the fact that it hasnt

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

been largely studied. (Hayslette. (2006) P.64) Eurasian Collared Doves, are considered an
invasive species, which means they have been introduced to the local environment through the
actual intervention of human beings. So far they have not been noticed to really cause many
problems with habitat destruction or habitat alteration but they do compete for food with other
species of birds, therefore there could be a problem that arises in the future (Bled, Royle, & Cam
(2011). P.291).
Materials and Methods
Observations will be recorded in a 4x6 notebook; birds will be watched with regular eye site as
well as with binoculars, while sitting in a chair. All activity and vocalizations that are heard and
or seen will be recorded by time and later broken down into 15 min. increments. The main focus
is on the Doves vocalization, and flight/territory changes. The observation will take place at
Stansbury Elementary School in West Valley City, Utah. Data will be collected on two separate
occasions, or days, for approximately 2 hours each session.
First day of observation, started off very well. Didnt take long before the Doves were in
sight and collection of data was in progress. The doves flew in together one landed on the
powerline the other on a post. They were about 6 away from each other, at this point, not sure if
there were any vocalizations. Neither of the birds stayed in any one place for long periods of
time with the exception of the female. She spent time in the pine tree working on the nest, when
she wasnt working on the nest it looked as though she was sitting in the nest. The male spent
about 14 min. the first day scouting for sticks and or twigs and returning with several for the
nest. He flew off four times in this 14 min. interval with each decent he would make a squawking
noise, just once. On average he was gone for about 2 min. scouting, and in the tree for 1 min.
before off to look for another piece for the nest, the female stayed in the tree with the nest this

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

whole time. The doves have a cooing call, some may find it annoying, others could possibly find
it soothing. Either way I mostly heard the cooing, when the birds were further than 100 away
from each other, it was never heard when they were next to each other. When the doves werent
building their nest, they spent their time either on the powerline, or they would fly off where they
couldnt be seen. The longest time frame they were gone was around 15 min. They were not
observed eating, or foraging due to the type of food they eat was not to be found in the area the
observation was taking place.
Second day of observation, now that the nesting site was known, it took no time at all
finding the doves. One was found perched on the powerline, while the other was sitting on the
nest. We got there just in time to observe the two making more preparations to the nest. They
worked on this process for approximately 12-13 min. again today, on average the male would be
away scouting for about 2 min. and back at the nest for 1 min. There was a slight variation in
todays routine, as the male flew out of the tree to scout he was squawking 3 times as he left. One
of the sticks the male brought back was actually bigger than he was, it was funny watching him
trying to get it into the tree where he wanted it. The stick kept getting stuck in the branches, the
male wasnt giving up, eventually he was able to get it where he was wanting it. There seems to
be more squawking today than the first observation, but this could be due to the fact that the
squawk is now known to be affiliated with the doves, whereas with the first observation this
wasnt discovered right at first.
Results
A few things that were interesting during the observation; almost at 100% of the time
either of the birds took off for flight they headed to the east, there were only a handful of times,
this was not the case. If both birds were out of the tree sitting on the powerline, post, or fence

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

they were almost always within 6-12 of each other, and the cooing call was never heard during
these times. From what was observed there is some indication that Collared-doves stay paired up,
they dont go far from each other. They could stay paired together for companionship,
reproduction, but also for protection, there is safety in numbers. Two is always better than one,
they can help look out for each other. At first there was the thought that the male was
communicating something specific by squawking the one time, every time he left the tree to
scout, but this idea was debunked the second day when the male continually squawked three
times each time he left, and also on a few occasions squawked multiple times while flying off,
and flying back when not scouting. The hypothesis was partially answered, but not fully. The
Eurasian Collared Dove is quite active from 10:30 a.m. to at least around 1:30 p.m. to fully
answer the hypothesis, more observations would need to be done during other parts of the day,
and evening. My original thought was that the doves would be less active during the heat of the
day, this thought I was actually proven wrong on.
As far as vocalization is concerned, there isnt any data showing a pattern in times, but
distance between the two birds could actually play a part in the cooing. When looking at the data
for squawking the only pattern that is somewhat there is the male will squawk every time he flies
off to look for twigs, or sticks for the nest. To wrap this whole thing up, how about we throw in
some anthropomorphism and say, the Mr.s squawk, is telling the Mrs., I will be right back in a
few with a stick.
What could be done different
If doing it over again, a better pair of binoculars would be especially helpful! The pair that was
used, made it difficult to see the doves up close. It would have been neat to maybe see what the
doves were actually doing to the nest. Another change that would be necessary to make would be

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

not procrastinating, even though kids make it difficult to allow you to do what you need to do
when you want and or need to do it. A different location would be very helpful as well, there was
a lot of noise from cars. Several of the peer reviewed articles that were read discussed how the
Collared-dove is invasive and we dont know what ecological effects the bird is going to have on
native species in the long term. (Poling, Hayslette (2006). p. 998) With observing these two
doves, they both seem to be pretty even tempered. There were many other birds around, the
doves didnt come across as being aggressive toward them.

TIME
10:30
AM
10:45
AM
11:00
AM
11:15
AM
11:30
AM
11:45
AM
12:00
PM
12:15
PM
12:30
PM
12:45
PM
1:00
PM
1:15
PM
1:30
PM
1:45
PM
2:00
PM

Total

Dove Coos
7/28/16

Dove Coos
7/30/16

Dove Squawks
7/28/16

Dove Squawks
7/30/16

Dove Movement
7/28/16

11

0
0

Dove Movement
7/30/16

13

14

12

11

10

10

15

20
0
0

14

34

52

63

58

92

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

Eurasian Collared Dove Vocalization

25
20
15
10
5
0

Dove Coos 28

Dove Coos 30

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

Eurasian Collared Dove Vocalization

Dove Squawks 28

Dove squawks 30

Eurasian Collared Dove Movement

Dove Movement 28

Dove Movement 30

Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

Eurasian Collared Dove Vocalization and Movement

25
20
15
10
5
0

Dove Coos 28

Dove Coos 30

Dove Squawks 28

Dove squawks 30

Dove Movement 28

Dove Movement 30

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Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

References
Shalaway, Scott. (2014). http://www.farmanddairy.com/coulmns/eurasian-collared-dovecome/202136.html
2016. 8/02. https:/www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eurasain_Collared-Dove/lifehistory
Hayslette, S. E. (2006). SEED-SIZE SELECTION IN MOURNING DOVES AND EURASIAN
COLLARED-DOVES. Wilson Journal Of Ornithology, 118(1), 64-69.
Bled, F., Royle, J., & Cam, E. (2011). Hierarchical modeling of an invasive spread: The Eurasian
Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto in the United States. Ecological Applications, 21(1),
290-302. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.libprox1.slcc.edu/stable/29779655
Poling, T., & Hayslette, S. (2006). Dietary Overlap and Foraging Competition between
Mourning Doves and Eurasian Collared-Doves. The Journal of Wildlife
Management, 70(4), 998-1004. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org.libprox1.slcc.edu/stable/3803464