Eurasian Collared-Dove
(Streptopelia decaocto)

Overview

Summary

© Christian Artuso
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The Eurasian Collared-Dove has undergone a dramatic increase in numbers and distribution since it was introduced to the Bahamas in the mid-1970s (Romagosa 2012). The species spread rapidly across North America, reaching Canada in about 2002 (National Audubon Society 2010). Results for the Breeding Bird Survey and the Christmas Bird Count data reflect this large increase in the population. National population goals have not been established for this and other introduced species.

Designations

Population status

Population estimate

Distribution maps

• North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS): Relative Abundance and Breeding Distribution (1970-2016)
• British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas (2008-2017): Breeding Evidence
• eBird Canada 2018

Migration strategy, occurrence

Responsibility for conservation

Conservation and management

The Eurasian Collared-Dove is strongly associated with human-altered habitats in North America (Bonter et al. 2010). The species benefits from being flexible with food sources and nest sites found within urban and suburban areas and in rural areas where agricultural grains are available (Romagosa 2012). There are no conservation concerns for this introduced species, which is rapidly becoming well established in Canada. However, the conservation implications of its introduction for native species is unknown.

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

• conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
• stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
• management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
• other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

References

• Bonter, D.N., B. Zuckerberg, and J.L. Dickinson. 2010. Invasive birds in a novel landscape: habitat associations and effects on established species. Ecography 33:494-502. Bonter, D.N., B. Zuckerberg, and J.L. Dickinson. 2010. Invasive birds in a novel landscape: habitat associations and effects on established species. Ecography 33:494-502. (Link)
• National Audubon Society. 2010. The Christmas Bird Count Historical Results [Online]. Accessed in 2010.. National Audubon Society. 2010. The Christmas Bird Count Historical Results [Online]. Accessed in 2010.. (Link)
• Romagosa, C.M. 2012. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Romagosa, C.M. 2012. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. (Link)