Eurasian Collared-Dove: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Pigeons, Doves and Sparrows · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. In 1974, fewer than 50 collared doves escaped in the Bahamas. The species now occurs in nearly every US state and in Mexico.
2. In Arkansas, the dove crossed about 500 km in five years, 100 km a year. In Europe it managed 45 km a year.
3. Winter flocks usually number 10 to 50 collared doves, but flocks of up to 10,000 have been sighted.
4. A pair often raises three or four families a year. The record is six in a single year.
5. To impress a mate, the male climbs almost straight up, then glides down in a circle, wings held in an inverted V.

The quiz

1. How many doves escaped in the Bahamas in 1974?

• More than 500
• About 1,000
• Around 5,000
• Fewer than 50 (correct)

Fewer than 50 doves escaped in 1974.

2. How far did the dove spread each year in Arkansas?

• 10 km a year
• 100 km a year (correct)
• 45 km a year
• 500 km a year

It spread about 100 km a year in Arkansas.

3. How big can flocks of collared doves get?

• Up to 10,000 (correct)
• Up to 100
• Up to 1,000
• Up to 500

Flocks of up to 10,000 have been sighted.

4. What is the most broods a collared dove has been recorded raising in a year?

• Two
• Three
• Six (correct)
• Four

Six broods in one year is the record; three or four is more usual.

5. How does a male collared dove show off to a mate?

• He dances on the ground
• He sings from a high wire
• He builds a nest of feathers
• He climbs steeply, then glides down in a circle (correct)

The male climbs almost straight up, then glides down in a circle.

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