Eurasian Collared Dove .... I think

[john gault]

This morning I was watering my garden when I noticed a dove in my yard, not a big deal we got tons of morning doves around here. Then I noticed him/her going around to all my mulched areas of the yard and getting twigs and stuff for (I assume) a nest. As I looked closer at the dove it didn't look exactly like a typical dove around here; He was slightly bigger and a lighter shade of gray. Then I noticed what looked like a ring around the neck, then this really got my attention as it flew from here to there it would make a sound I never heard from a morning dove -- a much harsher sound, something I wouldn't expect from a dove.

I was in a hurry to leave this morning so didn't have time to track it down with my camera, but I did throw some bread at it and then again its actions were not like a typical dove, it was almost indifferent, just kept looking for nest-building stuff. I was able to get within 10 feet of it and even when I almost hit it with some bread he just jumped out of the way, but didn't fly away.

I don't think he was building the nest too far away, so hope to see him again and I bought some seeds today for feeding. I think this is what I saw, but not entirely sure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_Collared_Dove

[thanrose]

I had one that may have been that specie. Also had a few other odd doves at times for short periods of time, white doves or other bred doves that landed in that yard and did not have a feral incentive to flee. Two of them I kept over a winter. The others eventually flew away. The ring neck one, Georgia Peach, died of what I believe to be old age in the shared aviary. Snowball, whatever reason he had to be in my yard looking lost, recovered enough that he wanted out through my sliding glass doors in the spring. I just closed the blinds until morning when I opened the sliders wide so he'd have a good day to find home. They were both very tame in that I could clean around them, occasionally stroke them, give them messy pans of water to bathe in, etc. Not so with Cat Chu Toi, the broken winged bluejay I had at the same time. She'd screech alarms at my approach but they doves were like, "Dude, chill, I think she's bringing munchies!"

I figured someone had to have a dovecote, but my network of rehabber acquaintances revealed nothing.

[Susan W]

Looks like the one, well a pair I had for a couple of years. This year not. I would see them take to the birdbath, and go back up to a near tree branch. From what I could surmise, not invasive, but is interesting! I do have the regular garden variety of doves around and at the bird bath.
Looks like OK Kitty got one, as it is rather upside down motionless in the back yard.

[john gault]

The ONE dove I saw now has a mate and I got a pic of them both in my birdbath. http://s1128.photobucket.com/home/76gunner

[john gault]

I haven't located their nest yet, but I think it's either in the southern magnolia or one of my live oaks. I do see them daily.

[rainbowgardener]

I usually never correct anyone's spelling, but I just think it is interesting. They are not morning doves, they are mourning doves, because their sound is plaintive and mournful.

[john gault]

I usually never correct anyone's spelling, but I just think it is interesting. They are not morning doves, they are mourning doves, because their sound is plaintive and mournful.

I do remember that thought going threw my head before writing down "morning dove" and thought I checked the spelling, but guess I didn't; I'm usually keen on those type things. Thanks Rainbow, I am glad you corrected me. I'd rather be publicly corrected than ignorant

[Rose bloom]

Yeah, it probably is a Eurasian. I have one named snowflake.