Eurasian Collared-Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

Alsop (234), "This large dove, a native of Eurasia, was introduced into the Bahama Islands in 1974. By the end of the 1970s, it had found its way to Florida ... By the beginning of the new millennium this now established exotic had spread up the Atlantic Coast to North Carolina, [and] across the Gulf Coast to Texas ...."

Lockwood & Freeman (87) write, "Locally common in urban areas throughout the state, although perhaps most prevalent along the coast. This species was first reported in Texas in March 1995 and by 1996 had reached the northern High Plains in Randall County ... Eurasian Collared-Doves have been reported in over 80% of the counties in the state ...."

I suspect that this is the Eurasian Collared-Dove and not the Ringed Turtle-Dove. They look similar, but the Ringed Turtle-Dove cannot maintain itself in the wild without human intervention.

Lockwood & Freeman (227) note, "Local escapees [of risoria] have been found throughout the state and hybrids with Eurasian Collared-Doves ... have been noted in scattered locations along the upper and central coasts. The validity of the taxon has been debated in recent years."

Picture taken with a Nikon D80 using a Nikon 400mm, f/5.6 manual focus lens.

December 23, 2011.