Dove, Collared

It is a medium-sized dove, distinctly smaller than the wood pigeon, similar in length to a rock pigeon but slimmer and longer-tailed, and slightly larger than the related turtle dove, with an average length of 32 cm from tip of beak to tip of tail, with a wingspan of 47–55 cm, and a weight of 125–240 g. It is grey-buff to pinkish-grey overall, a little darker above than below, with a blue-grey under wing patch. The tail feathers are grey-buff above, and dark grey tipped white below; the outer tail feathers also tipped whitish above. It has a black half-collar edged with white on its nape from which it gets its name. The short legs are red and the bill is black. The iris is red, but from a distance the eyes appear to be black, as the pupil is relatively large and only a narrow rim of reddish-brown iris can be seen around the black pupil. The eye is surrounded by a small area of bare skin, which is either white or yellow. The two sexes are virtually indistinguishable; juveniles differ in having a poorly developed collar, and a brown iris.

Latin Name
Streptopelia decaocto

When the bird was spotted

Date Location Title Seen by Interestingness
Italy, Sicily St Vito del Capo mike421
Italy, Sicily St Vito lo Capo mike421
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors From kitchen window b.m.stokesley ***
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors Sutton Bank b.m.stokesley *
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors garden b.m.stokesley *
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors On nearby house b.m.stokesley
Portugal, Algarve Tavira b.m.stokesley
Germany, Wissen on the oak opposite the house Hühnerhabicht *
Spain, Seville Seville b.m.stokesley
Germany, Kandern spa gardens Bad Bellingen Hühnerhabicht
France, Leymen In front of the house mike421 **
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors Stokesley Trading Estate b.m.stokesley
Greece, Kalymnos In Vathy mike421 *
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors Two sitting on garden feeder b.m.stokesley
Spain, Mallorca near hotel b.m.stokesley
France, Leymen In front of the house mike421 *
UK, Teesside and the North York Moors Staithes mike421
Switzerland, not specified In the zoo part mike421
France, Leymen On the rooftop mike421