[MDOsprey] 1997 Mystery Dove Photos Surface
Howard Youth (hmyouth@erols.com)
Wed, 28 Jul 1999 13:12:58 -0400
I mentioned the spread of the Eurasian collared-dove in an article I
recently wrote for the <italic>Washington Post </italic>(April). Last
month, the editors received a letter and photos from a couple in Dunkirk,
MD. The couple says they hosted (the dove in question) in their backyard
the summer of 1997. Four close-up but blurred photos were enclosed. The
WP editors forwarded the photos to me.
A few notes on the bird in the photos: There are no views of undertail
coverts, but the primaries, at rest, seem darkish (between brown of
typical ringed turtle and dark gray of collared). Anyway, I'm stumped.
I've compared this photo with those in P. William Smith's excellent 1987
<italic>American Birds</italic> article on ringed turtle, collared, and
hybrid doves, and some photos I'd taken years ago of the ringed turtle
doves at Fort McHenry. I'm leaning toward thinking it's a ringed turtle
dove, but that's really a somewhat educated guess.
Has anyone else heard about this bird? Would anyone be interested in
reviewing the photos to see if this might be of interest to the records
committee? If it turns out to be a Eurasian collared dove, I suppose the
Arhars of Dunkirk might have the first Maryland record, retroactively.
Any input would be appreciated!
Howard Youth
hmyouth@erols.com
Rockville, MD