Rare Bird Report #: 23-B-07

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Eurasian Collard-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)

HOW MANY: 2 - 1m,1f

REPORTER: Doug Ward
8362 Selkirk Ct.
Hayden, ID 83835
(208) 762-7107

REPORTER EMAIL: ward@revettminerals.com

OTHER OBSERVERS:

DATE REPORT PREPARED:

2 May 2007

DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 1 May 2007

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION:

Post Falls Jr.High School
Post Falls, Kootenai Co., ID

HABITAT: Urban

CONDITIONS:

Approximately five (5) minutes at between 20 and 50 feet. Bright overcast at about 5:30pm, no wind or precipitation. "Purist" birds as I had no binoculars with me at the time.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?:

No, not at all

DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, later the same day

WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: 1) National Geographic Complete Birds of North America; 2005

DESCRIPTION: Size and general "jizz" of familiar Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). One of the birds was slightly larger than the other with generally more saturated color tones - presumably male/female pair.

Both birds were overall a warm pinkish tan coloration with the dorsal areas generally a darker shade. Both also exhibited a narrow black nape bar extending to the sides of the neck. Tail while sitting projected well beyond the primaries giving an overall long tailed appearance. In flight, tail was squared off. Tail coloration showed pale grey "corners" in the outer retricies, with dark greyish tan central retricies. Was unable to see undertail coverts during observation. In flight, these birds exhibited the characteristic contrasting upper wing patterning - dark primaries, pale secondaries and mantal colored (tan) tertials and coverts.

BEHAVIOR: Initially saw the birds fly into the school parking lot and begin feeding on the ground in a patch of gravel (50 feet away). As I approached, the birds flushed (as I was about 20 feet away), breifly landed on a fence (facing away), then flew off. At all times these birds stayed very close together and seemed very skitish.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? As soon as I saw these birds fly in, I knew what they were. Combination of general coloration, squared off tail with grey "corners", and contrasting wing pattern were diagnostic for me.

HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? 1) Morning Dove (Zenaida macroura) by tail shape and coloration. 2) Ringed Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia risoria) by general coloration-these birds were relatively dark- but primarily by the contrasting upper wing pattern.

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I have seen numberous Eurasian Collared Doves (Streptopelia decaocto) and Ringed Turtle-Doves (Streptopelia risoria) in Florida as recently as four weeks ago (1st week of April 2007). In addition, I've seen occasional Eurasian Collared Doves over the years in other states (KS,CO,WY,WA) as they have been expanding their western range. This was the first observation for me in Idaho.

GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: I've been an avid birder for 34 years and consider myself "advanced".

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: None