Collared Dove

53 secs / 158 kb / MP3

The Collared Dove is a regular guest in our garden

This small and rather dull pigeon conquered the best part of Europe during the last century. It probably found a niche in the foodchain, although it's still not very clear what gap it filled. The birds behaves much more relaxed than the Woodpigeon and is less afraid of people. In towns I've seen it amidst 'Town Pigeons', so it could very well be still adapting it's livestyle. It's monotonous song doesn't differ very much from that of most other pigeons. I'm not sure whether the French put this one in their pate as well...

The Collared Dove is a grey, small and rather dull dove.

This bird belongs to the family of Doves (Columbidae). It is common in our garden and can be seen in Holland all year round. The bird is 12" and weighs 200 grams. It lives in villages, cities, parks and gardens mostly. It eats seeds. The sexes do not differ from one another. The bird builds a nest up in trees. It lays only two eggs at a time, but may build up to five nests in one season. The young hatch after 14 days and need to be looked after in the nest for some 16 days.

Name of this bird in various other languages
Dutch	German	French	Polish	Scientific
Turkse tortelduif	Türkentaube	Tourterelle turque	Sierpówka	Streptopelia decaocto