Eurasian Collared-Dove in Delaware.

David Bridge (David@simsc.si.edu)
Tue, 11 Aug 98 23:23:20


Eurasian Collared-Dove in Delaware.
First record(?) for Delaware.
August 10, 1998, ca 7:30am
David Bridge, Peter Bridge and Cynthia Renk.

We observed what we believe to be two Eurasian Collared-Doves 
in Selbyville, Sussex Co., Delaware at 7:30am.  The birds were 
first observed at a bird feeder and later at several locations
in the yard.

The precise location is about .1 miles east of US Rt. 113 
on Delaware Rt. 54.  This road is also known as Cemetery Road.  
The feeders are located in the yard of a house with
the number 60 on it.  The house has a red roof and a half-story 
stone front; there is a white fence around the lot,
and many bird feeders.  This location is also about .9 miles
north of the Maryland-Delaware line.  The DeLorme location 
is right on the line between blocks A4 and A5 on page 35.

The birds appeared to be slightly larger than Mourning Doves, 
several of which were near by.   The primaries were
darker than the rest of the wing and there was a conspicuous 
white border around the black collar on the neck.
My copy of "Birds of Britain and Europe" by B. Bruun, 1978,
says:  "Black neck-band bordered with white is diagnostic".
One reference we have suggests that the undertail coverts 
are diagnostic, however, we did not observe the color of 
the undertail coverts.

There is a "telephone pole" in the yard with a "street light"
type light mounted on it.  One dove was on the light, while 
the other dove was on the top of the pole.  The bird (male?) 
on the pole was performing courtship displays to other bird.

Unfortunately, we did not hear the doves call.

===============================================
August 11, 1998, ca 10:30-11:30am
David Bridge and Cynthia Renk.

We returned to try and gather more information and to talk 
to the resident of the house.

We did not see the doves.  We did hear a "dove calling" 
several times, which we were unable to locate.  The call was
different than the Mourning Doves which were calling for 
comparison.  The call sounded like what is described for the 
Eurasian Collared-Dove.  Three even notes, coo-coo-coo.

I spoke with the lady of the house about the doves which we 
had seen in her yard.  She was unaware of the Eurasian 
Collared-Doves at her feeders.  I asked if they raised 
doves, and she replied no.  She said that "all the birds 
that we feed are wild".  This statement does not support 
the possibility of local escaped doves.

===========================================
Peter Bridge and Cynthia Renk saw this species in North 
Carolina in June 1998, and believe these two birds looked
the same as the two Eurasian Collared-Doves that they saw
in NC.

Yours, 
David Bridge, David@simsc.si.edu
Peter Bridge, josiahbridge@hotmail.com
Cynthia Renk, renkc@hotmail.com