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Identification of Mourning and Eurasian Collared-Dove

Sam Crowe
Updated: March 3, 2023
Bird ID Challenges
Mourning vs Eurasian Collared-Dove
 

The Mourning Dove is our most widespread and common dove. It is common in parks and will build their rough nest in hanging flower parts or other backyard locations.

In recent years, the introduced Eurasian Collared-Dove, below, has spread rapidly across the United States.


Note the blue eye ring, bill size and black spots on the wings of this Mourning Dove.


The Eurasian Collared-Dove has the same general shape and color of the Mourning Dove. Note the small bill, lack of blue eye ring, black mark on neck and plain gray color on wings. Larger than the Mourning Dove.

 

The Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared-Dove are two species of doves that often give great ID challenges. Here are some key differences between the two:

  1. Eurasian Collared-Doves are larger than Mourning Doves, with an overall length of 12-14 inches compared to the Mourning Dove’s 9-13 inches.
  2. Mourning Doves have a light gray-brown head, neck, and body with black spots on their wings and a long, pointed tail. Eurasian Collared-Doves have a light gray-brown head, neck, and body, but they have a distinctive black collar on the back of their neck and a shorter, square-shaped tail.
  3. Mourning Doves are native to North America and can be found throughout the continent, while Eurasian Collared-Doves are native to Europe and Asia and have been introduced to North America, where they are now established in many areas.
  4. Mourning Doves are found in a wide variety of habitats, including urban areas, forests, fields, and deserts. Eurasian Collared-Doves are also adaptable and can be found in urban and suburban areas, as well as agricultural fields and open woodlands.
  5. The Mourning Dove’s call is a distinctive, mournful cooing sound, often described as “coo-OO-oo-oo”. The Eurasian Collared-Dove’s call is similar to the Mourning Dove’s but is typically shorter and less mournful, with a more abrupt ending.

 

About the Author

Sam Crowe
Sam is the founder of Birdzilla.com. He has been birding for over 30 years and has a world list of over 2000 species. He has served as treasurer of the Texas Ornithological Society, Sanctuary Chair of Dallas Audubon, Editor of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds" web site and as a contributing editor for Birding Business magazine. Many of his photographs and videos can be found on the site.

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