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Birding/bird identification

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Expert: - 5/23/2008


Question
It looks like a dove with a black ring all the way around it's neck.  The bird color is very light compared to the mourning dove, almost white, the wings have a hint of a very pale aqua color.  East Texas.  The shape and movement suggests a dove.  the color and black ring threw me completely. I can't find a black ringneck dove on the internet.  I saw it sitting on my privacy fence (in the city limits).

Answer
It is either a Eurasian Collared Dove or a Ringed Turtle-Dove. The Eurasian Collared Dove is larger than a Mourning Dove and the Turtle-dove about the same size. Neither one has a ring that goes all the wya around its neck, but only around the back and sides.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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