Birding/Ring neck dove

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Expert: - 7/28/2007


Question
Last year was the first we have seen the fawn ring neck doves here in Illinois. We have 2 pair and now we have 6. I think they came here on the winds of the hurricane. All I can find on them is information about "pet" birds and they say these ring necks don't live well in the wild. The only book I have says they are only found along the east coast. Did they migrate or could the hurricane have caused them to move up here?

Answer
I don't think you are talking about the Ringed-turtle Dove which has very restricted distribution but actually the Eurasian Collared Dove. The Eurasian Collared Dove has been spreading rapidly across the US over the past few years and I suspect that is what you have seen. They are about the size of a common city pigeon, and fawn-colored. Ring-necked Doves are smaller and very light in color.

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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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