Eurasian Collared-Dove
Description
The Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is a dove species native to Europe and Asia; it was introduced to Japan, North America and islands in the Caribbean. Because of its vast global range and increasing population trend, it has been listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2014.
Distribution & Habitat
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is native to Asia and Europe, and
in the West Indies it has been
introduced to The Bahamas,
Guadeloupe (Raffaele and others
1998), and Puerto Rico (Biaggi
1997). It also occurs in Cuba, the
Cayman Islands, Martinique, St.
Christopher, Nevis, Montserrat,
and Dominica (Raffaele and
others 1998). It is a domesticated
form of the African Collared-
Dove (S. roseogrisea). It is
expected that the entire West
Indies will be colonized by
birds from nearby populations
(Raffaele and others 1998). This
species habitat consists of urban
areas (Raffaele and others 1998).
The atlas fieldwork yielded a total of 113 records within 69
hexagons or 14 percent of the
479 total hexagons (see map). Of
the 69 hexagons where this dove
was found, breeding met the
atlas definition of confirmed in
10 percent (7) of the hexagons,
probable in 42 percent (29),
and possible in 48 percent (33)
(see map).
Breeding Habits
The Eurasian Collared-Dove builds a platform nest made of
twigs, usually placed in a tree,
bush, or palm, or on a building
ledge (Raffaele and others 1998).
Previously published reports
indicate that it breeds primarily
from March to August (Raffaele
and others 1998). It has been Eurasian Collared-Dove distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones
in Puerto Rico. 49Eurasian Collared-Dove/Tórtola Collarina found to hybridize with the African Collared-Dove in Europe
(Fisher 1953). Atlas results show that this species breeding season
extends throughout the year,
with the most breeding activity
during May and June (see chart).
Overall, the breeding activity
peaks in May and mostly takes
place within the subtropical dry
forest life zone. Results show
that this species breeds mostly
in the southern coast of the
island within the subtropical dry forest life zone (54 percent of
the hexagons) (see table). It also
breeds in the subtropical moist
forest life zone (42 percent of the hexagons) and within subtropical wet forest life zones at higher
elevations (4 percent of the
hexagons) (see table and map).
Conservation
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is currently listed as a species
of least concern by the IUCN (BirdLife International 2018).
Locally, this species is not
listed in any of the threatened
categories of PRDNER and
USFWS. In Puerto Rico, the
Eurasian Collared-Dove has a
protected habitat in land of 8
percent or 137 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons
where evidence of breeding
was found for this species
(1653 km2).
Related Species
Family:
dove