IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES:

Eurasian Collared-Dove

HOW MANY:

4

REPORTER:

Cliff Weisse
4125 Beaver Springs Rd.
Island Park, ID 83429

REPORTER EMAIL:

cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

Darren Clark
riversilt@hotmail.com

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

1/30/2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED:

1/27/2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

In a yard between Hagerman and Wendell. Exact address not known but it was more than five miles from Hagerman.

HABITAT:

Rural yard

CONDITIONS:

About one minute total. Distance approximately 20 yards. Sun was behind observers and shining on the birds.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?:

No, not at all

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:



DESCRIPTION:

Large creamy tan doves with square tails tipped in white. The dark gray undertail coverts were darker than the belly and distal end of the tail and were seen without optical aids on two of the four birds.

BEHAVIOR:

No "behavior" was observed. All four were perched on a power wire next to the road while driving through a rural area. They were in a yard with some trees nearby. No attempt was made to obtain better views as we were sure of the ID.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU?

Darren and I immediately recognized the birds as Eurasian Collared-Doves. The view of the undertail coverts was sufficient to clinch the ID.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

Mourning Dove is smaller, darker, has pointed tail, and lacks the contrasting dark undertail coverts. White-winged Dove has obvious white patch on folded wing which these birds lacked.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES):

I see Eurasian Collared-Doves numerous times each year and have done so for the past five years or so. I see numerous Mourning Doves throughout the summer months. I've seen one White-winged Dove.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE:

14 years

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?:

None