Eurasian Collared Doves

[Justin Julian]

This is a photo of Idaho's newest invasive bird species, the Eurasian Collared Dove. The juveniles in the photo are the smaller birds lacking the black neck collar. They first started showing up in northern Idaho about three years ago. Their population seems to be multiplying fast. The adults are at least half again the size of the native mourning dove, and they are said to displace mourning doves from feeding and nesting sites. They are currently an unprotected species in Idaho, like starlings. We don't yet have a huntable population in northern Idaho that I'm aware of, but they do exist in sufficient numbers in southeast Idaho, around the large scale dairy farms, from what I've been told. I was wondering how many members have seen these birds in their state too, and whether anyone has been shooting them in the off season. A friend of mine advises that they are quite good eating, and the extra size over the mourning dove makes for a more practical meal. These are odd birds to observe. They appear clumsy in flight and especially so when landing. They also like to land on odd objects and limbs that our wild birds would not typically utilize. When I first observed one using the bird feeder, I thought it was an escaped homing pigeon, as it almost seemed to exhibit domesticated characteristics.

[todd allen]

They have moved into So. Nevada in force, displacing the mourning doves. The good news is that they are good eating.
My Parkers seem to love them!

[Dean Romig]

In time they can probably be conditioned to fly faster and present a more challenging target.

[charlie cleveland]

we got a few of these big doves but there mostly around the citys...ive have my first one to get to shoot at...maybe this september... charlie

[Brian Stucker]

We have them in town and they are quite numerous. Occasionally they can be found on the ranches around the big trees and barns, but they seem to flourish in town.

I first saw them about four years ago and was attracted by their weird call....almost a crow caw-caw sound with a bit of a trill added. Big dudes too!

[todd allen]

In time they can probably be conditioned to fly faster and present a more challenging target.
Just miss with your first barrel, and you'll automatically have a more challenging target.
:cool:

[Steve E. Faber]

I started seeing them around small grain co-ops and rural towns in western KS about 2001, on pheasant/quail hunts. Then they made their way into southern CO shortly thereafter. I now live in TX west of Ft. Worth and travel TX and OK, listing and selling hunting ranches and see them everywhere I go. They are "town birds" and must not be able to make a living away from people and the feed we provide thru farming, etc. They are good to eat and depending on the state, the hunting opportunities are considerably more liberal then the mourning dove seasons.

[Destry L. Hoffard]

We saw a pair of them in Southern Illinois while out scouting for doves when I was about 18 years old and I've never seen another one. I'd be interesting in looking at a few over the end of a gun.

Destry

[Steve E. Faber]

They are easy to kill, just difficult to hunt because of the places they frequent. They don't hang around with the mourning dove populations, which are beginning to swell with the excellent growth of the native and hybrid sunflowers many of the area farmers have planted this year.

[charlie cleveland]

send a few of them over to destrey and me...doves did not come in to my parts last year they said it was onna count the bad storms.. charlie

[Steve E. Faber]

The mourning doves cruised past us last summer too, due to the drought and fires all over this part of TX but they are back this year. Should be a good year. The Eurasians didn't dwindle, however, as they don't seem to migrate once they set up shop. I hope ya'll get to shoot a bunch of them this year. We grill 'em with jalapeño and your favorite cheese slices held together with a strip of bacon. Very good eating.