eurasian collared dove

The Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is one of nature’s greatest colonizers, easily recognized by its dusty pinkish-gray plumage, distinct black neck collar, and a persistent, three-syllable coo-COO-coo call. Originally native to warm-temperate regions of Asia and Europe, this highly adaptable bird staged a massive global expansion, famously spreading across North America in just a few decades after a small group escaped in the Bahamas during the 1970s. As you record or observe them, look for their squared-off tails with white tips in flight, and note how comfortably they thrive in urban areas, agricultural fields, and backyard feeders, out-competing other species simply by breeding year-round whenever food is abundant.