Re: Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mike Milton (mikemilton@ibm.net)
Wed, 12 May 1999 03:32:43 -0400
A further historical question -- what about the birds reported in
Maryland Birdlife 37(2): 48, (Winter Season, R. Ringler) as follows:
"At Fort McHenry the Ringed Turtle Doves had a nest
with 2 eggs on Feb. 27 [1980] (Bielenberg)."
There are other reports, e.g. Maryland Birdlife 37(1): 33: "A
Ringed Turtle Dove was reported in Silver Spring on Aug. 5 [1980] (Betty
Collins)."
As I recall, populations, including those in Florida, which are now
accepted without controversy as Streptopelia decaocto, Eurasian
Collared-Dove, were generally called S. risoria, Ringed Turtle-Dove,
circa 1980. The more current books I have at hand indicate that escaped
or feral "risoria" are occasionally seen, are distinguishable from
decaocto both by voice and plumage, and that the name "risoria" should
be reserved for the domesticated variety of S. risogrisea, African
Collared-Dove.
I assume that there has been no reason for the MD-DC Records
Committee (or the Yellow Book) to be concerned with any Streptopelia,
in view of their origin and absence of a sustaining population here.
But were the Fort McHenry birds decaocto, or "risoria", and should I
finally delete rosogrisea from my Grand Unedited Illegitimate Personal
World List?