Eurasian Collared-Dove

These birds have colonized Oregon quite rapidly. We get a few here on the farm off and on, although we mostly have Mourning Doves. When both species come in for grain that I throw in front of the barn, the EC Doves are clearly subordinate to the Mourning Doves, who chase their bigger cousins away. But we never get more than two or three EC Doves so maybe things would be different if there were hordes of them.

Recently, an EC Dove managed to get inside the chicken house but could not figure how to get back out. The chicken house is open, through low poultry-sized doors, to the chicken yard and last year's garden, both of which are open on top. We cover the garden with netting during gardening season but the netting is off now. So it was easy enough for the EC Dove to get into the chicken house by flying into the chicken yard and walking through the low door. However, it could not figure out how to reverse that procedure. After three days, Johnny took pity on the bird and caught it. Before he turned it loose I had him hold it every-which-way so I could take photos. I'd never seen the complete underside of the tail. I was surprised at the patterning.

topside of bird has almost-blue coloring on sides of back, under wings

That same blue on top of wings, maybe what Sibley calls "gray band across wing coverts". The eye ring appears to be the same, soft blue.

underside of tail (a little soiled from hanging out on chicken house floor, probably)

pink feet!

soft brown chest

After the photo shoot, Johnny opened his hand and gave a little fling, but the bird just sat there, clinging to his hand. So he set it on a tree branch. It took a few seconds before the bird realized it was free, I guess, but then it took off, flying strongly and well, far, far out of sight. We haven't seen or heard an EC Dove here since. But I suppose others will find the free meal in front of the barn some morning.

I don't mind Eurasian Collared-Doves during the winter, when they are mostly silent. But I would prefer not to have them during their "singing" season. They are pretty birds, but their repetitive calls drive me nuts.