The Eurasian Collared-Dove Arrives in the Americas

RANGE EXPANSION

The Eurasian Collared-Dove arrives in the Americas

If the Cattle Egret is the "white P. William Smith starling," is this species destined to become the "gray starling?"

and I determined for certain that a burgeoningNTHE SPRINGsoutheast OF 1986,FloridaH. W.KALE pop- II ulation of collared Streptopeliadoves was in fact $. decaocto, the Eurasian Collared-Dove (Smith and Kale 1986). Although some observershad indepen- dently identified them correctly (e.g. White 1986), thesebirds had been over- looked for severalyears by the birding and ornithologicalcommunities on the assumptionthat they were RingedTur- tle-Doves ( S. 'risoria '). Becausethis population is now well established and is increasing and spreadingrapidly, it deservesattention. What is the Eurasian Collared-Dove? How does it differ from the Ringed Turtle-Dove shown in most North American field guides?How did it get here?What are its prospects?

The Eurasian Collared-Dove

The Eurasian Collared-Dove was formally described,in 1838, from what is now Bulgaria,by the Hungarian naturalist Frivaldszky, who named it decaocto after an ancient Greek myth about a dore's call (from Fisher 1953). Fisher, citing others, believed that it spread westward or was introduced into Asia Minor and the Balkans from its principal range farther east, primarily India, during the 16th century. This theory, however, may be inconsistent with the notion that it was known to the ancientGreeks. For approximately 400 yearsand perhapsmuch longer,its European range was confined to a relatively smallarea around the Blackand Aegeanseas. It was first reportedon the east side of the Adriatic Sea in what is Eurasian Collared-Dove.Florida, August1987. Photo/ReedBowman

Volume 41, Number 5 1371 1987 Americas range of Eurasian Collared-Dove perhapsas many as 100,000 pairs in 1977. The speciesfirst bred in Britain in 1955 and increasedgeometrically in numbers for about 10 years before • X 2 •o-- s9 slowing and finally leveling off at • I b 100 • 999 28' TAMPA • ' 000 around 50.000 pairs (Sharrock 1976: Q. • • S •0000 • 99999 Cramp and Simmons 1985). The population in northwestern Europe may have reached equilibrium, but expansion is still occurring to the northeast into the Union of Soviet Socialist Re- publics, and also to the southwest.The speciescrossed the Pyreneesabout 1974 (Cramp and Simmons 1985) and 26' reached Morocco in 1986 (Sharrock et al. 1987). The expansion of the Eurasian Col- lared-Dove in Europe has been so thor- oughly chronicled (e.g., Fisher 1953; Cramp and Simmons 1985. and nu- KEY•WE•T merous references contained therein) that it seemspointless to further review it. Studies suggest that it disperses mainly in spring, primarily westward, M•/S•an •. Smith. perhapsdue to saturation of local nesting locations. It often appears several hundred kilometers from the nearest known nesting site, with backfilling eventually occurring in suitable areas. In Western Europe, the speciesprefers suburbs,small towns, and agricultural settlements, shunning urban centers, open countryside,and forestedareas. Heavily associatedwith civilization. it survives by taking food, particularly grain, usually indirectly rather than directly from man.

The RingedTurtle-Dove

The name "Ringed Turtle-Dove" is a neologism,probably coined by Robert Ridgway to refer to small 19th century fetal populations of Streptopelia 'risoria' on several Caribbean islands, including Cuba (Ridgway 1916). In Eu- rope its English name has long been the Domesticcollared-doves grace the roofof a homeownerin St. Petersburg,Florida. September Barbary Dove. The name "risoria", 1. 1986. whofeeds them regularly. Also present are EurasianCollared-Doves. hybrid Eurasian meaning laughing, refersto its excited x domesticdoves and Mourning Doves(Zenaida macroura). Photo/P. William Smith. "heh-heh-heh" notes. According to Hartert ( 1916), it was describedby Lin- naeusin 1758 basedon the writingsand now Albania and Yugoslaviain the late plains and valleys of the Danube. The drawings of a 16th century naturalist, 19th century. species was first found breeding in Aldrovandus, who called it 'Turtur In- About 1930, the Eurasian Collared- Roumania and Hungary in the early dicus'. Eleazar Albin, writing in 1738, Dove began what has been called "the 1930s.By 1945, it had reach West Ger- referred to them as "tame and pretty most impressive example . . . of the many and by the early 1980s the pop- birds, kept in cagesby the curious, in expansionof an animal speciesin zoo- ulation there exceeded a million which they will breed and bring up their geography" (Nowak 1971). As Fisher (Cramp and Simmons 1985). In The young." In Linnaeus'time it waswide- (1953) put it, the main spreadgathered Netherlands, there were five pairs in spreadas a cagebirdin Europe, but no its momentum primarily in the great 1950, about 5000 pairs in 1963, and one knew its origins. Basedon Aldro-

1372 American Birds, Winter 1987 vandus' name, however, Linnaeus and others of the period apparently sup- posedthat it originated in India. After the similar S. decaocto was described in 1838 and was found to occur in India, some contemporary ornithol- ogistsconcluded that it must be the progenitorof S. 'risoria'. The African Collared-Dove(S. roseogrisea),a native of the arid zone south of the Sahara De- sert east to the Arabian peninsula, was describedlater, in 1857. People such as Shelley(1883), familiar with the vocal- izationsof all three, were convincedthat the affinities orS. 'risoria' were with ro- seogrisearather than with decaoclo. However, accordingto Harterr (1916), E. C. Stuart Baker erroneously resur- rected the presumed relationship between 'risoria' and decaoclo in an in- fluentialtreatise on Indian pigeonsand dovespublished in 1913. It hasnot been until recentyears that the relationships haveagain been properlysorted out (see Smith and Kale 1986 for a brief review). Aboveand below:Eurasian Collared-Dove (leJt) and nearly "wiM" domesttc(=Afiican) collared- dove.Note Eurasian• larger size, darker primaries. dark outer web of outer rectrices.and There no longerappears to be any sig- gray bellyand undertailcoverts. Photo/P WilliamSmith. nificant dispute among ornithologists that S. roseogriseais the progenitorof S. 'risoria' or that S. decaocto is a dif- ferent,although possibly closely related, species. The Ringed Turtle-Dove appearsto be a naturally occurringrecessive mutant of the African Collared-Dove (Goodwin 1983), which may have been domesticated in neolithic times (Zeuner 1963). The dove, distinct from the pigeon(Columba !ivia) and the migratory turtle-dove (S. turtur), plays a prominent role in the mythology of the ancient Semites,a people thought to have originated in Southern Arabia (Lang- don 1931) where the African Collared- Dove occursnaturally. Although schol- ars still debatewhich speciesis involved, the dove is important to both Judaism and Christianity. A dove, bringing an olive branch as proof, told Noah that the flood had receded (Genesis 8:11). Jesus'act of destroyingthe dove-sellers' seats in the temple (Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15, John 2:14) in part led to His crucifixion. As recentlyas 35 yearsago, Goodwin (1952) commented about the remark- able stability of the Ringed Turtle- Dove's plumage under domestication. About that time, however,a Californian aviculturist named Steinbeck imported some "wild" collared-doves, presum- ably Africans, for his aviary (Goodwin 1983, W. Miller in !itt.). Some were made available to geneticisisworking

Volume41, Number5 1373 birds (Horn 1931), this colony apparently did not survive the area's eco- nomic difficultiesafter prohibition and during the depression;probably no one continued to feed them. In February 1929, Joseph Grinnell discovered a fetal population of domestic collared-doves in Pershing Square, Los Angeles, California (Grin- nell 1929), which has persistednearby to this day. In attempting to establish its origin, he found them to be very common locally among aviculturists. Now urbanization, and perhapsthe ab- sence of continued nearby releases, makesthese birds' prospectstenuous at best. Another fetal population, in St. Petersburg,Florida, was found in 1953 (Grimes 1953) and still persiststoday in a neighborhoodwhere it is heavily fed. The latter population now shows so much variation in plumage that it evidently has been bolsteredby many additional releasesover the years. As discussedsubsequently, the St. Peters- burg population is also threatenedby introgression from the invading Eur- asian Collared-Doves. These two appear to be the only feral populations of domestic collared-doves In both the Eurasian and domesticcollared-doves, the shadingof the head, back, mantle, and in the United States that have existed underpartscan vary dependingon the angle of the sun. Photo/ReedBowman. for any length of time. Several others, including one in Tucson, Arizona, rep- with Ringed Turtle-Doves at the Uni- collared-doves $. 'risoria'. The quotes resent privately owned flocks main- versity of Wisconsin and later at the around 'risoria' follow the practice of tained at liberty (K. Kaufmann pers. University of Iowa (W. Miller in litt.). Goodwin (1983)and Cramp and Sim- comm., Roger Baker pers. comm.). Over the ensuing period, numerous mons (1985), suggestingthat it is not There are over 300 members of the phenotypes have been isolated. They the name of a valid species. American Dove Association alone who have been spread by members of the breed them. Like many kinds of do- American Dove Association (Motto: mesticated birds such as duck-pond Domestic collared-doves in the "We Love Doves") and others. includ- Mallards and Muscovies (Hoffmann United States ing the International Dove Society 1986), the domestic collared-dovehas basedin Texas. Dove fanciers, who refer apparentlylost its ability to disperseand Domestic collared-doves have been to them collectively as "ring-necked flourish in the wild (Goodwin 1983). it doves," now have and show a number in the United Statesfor a long time, but is arguable whether it deservesa place of varietiesincluding "wild" (i.e., sim- they did not come to the attention of on any list of wild birds. ilar in appearanceto the parent African the ornithological community until H. Collared-Dove), fawn or blond (the H. Bailey published a short note to the original Barbary Dove), white, ivory, effectthat he had captureda live Ringed peach,rosy, orange, tangerine, etc. Most Turtle-Dove in Dade County, Florida, Separating Eurasian from domestic of the colors can be mixed with white "no doubt... blown over from Cuba," collared-doves to provide a set of pied morphs. There and proclaimed it a new addition to the now is alsoan assortmentof silky types, A. O. U. Check-list (Bailey 1922). Nev- Because of the difficulties of describ- reflectinga defect in feather structure. ertheless, Bailey had no difficulty in ing the subtletiesof dovecoloration and Some of these phenotypeshave made procuringmore. for in 1927 he provided the tremendous variation now found in their way into the commercialpet trade a few pairs to John Levi, the developer domesticcollared-doves, explaining the and are now widely available. of Star Island, winter home of the no- visual differences between them and Thus, the long-stable Ringed Turtle- toriousgangster AI Capone, in Biscayne Eurasian Collared-Doves is nigh im- Dove has recently become more vari- Bay, off Miami Beach, Florida (Bailey possible.The shadingof the head, back, able, something akin to the domestic 1935). These were releasedand flour- mantle, and underparts of both species pigeon. To avoid confusion, therefore, ished in the vicinity at least into the varies with the season,age, and sex of I prefer to refer to all the domesticated 1930s. Although the feral population the individual, and may appear signif- varietiescollectively merely as domestic there quickly grew to more than 300 icantlydifferent depending on the angle

1374 American Birds, Winter 1987 and directness of the sun. Eurasian Col- lared-Dovesare usuallylarger and more robust than domestic collared-doves, and their undertailcoverts are normally gray. Their primaries are ordinarily darker, and from below the outer web of each outer tail feather is more exten- sivelydark. Conversely,domestics have white undertailcoverts, and depending on overallcoloration, may showa whi- ter belly compared to the pinker or creamier breast. The outer web of each outer tail feather is also mainly white. These differences are summarized in Table I. Juveniles of both speciesare similarto adultsbut may lack most or all of the neck ring duringtheir first few months of life. With some domestic phenotypes,the neck ring hasbeen bred completely away. As difficult as it may be to sepa- rate them visually, voice is diagnostic Althoughit is difficultto separatethe twospecies visually, the simplestway to tell Eurasians and may often be the simplestway to from domesticcollared-doves in thefieM is by voice.Photo/Reed Bowman. tell Eurasians from domestics in the field. The Eurasian Coilared-Dove's Table 1. Key differencesbetween Eurasian (ECD) and domestic(DCD) collared-doves repeated and normally trisyllabic "kuk-koooooo6-kook"call, given fre- ECD DCD quentlyfrom telephone poles or wires, I. Call (.) Unrolled Rolled TV antennas, and similar singing "kuk-koooooo6-kook". "kooeek-krrrrooooo(aw)". perchesduring the extended breeding Often in series with brief Usually longer pauses season,differs significantly from the pausesbetween phrases. between phrases. domestic'srolling, often softer, usually 2. Note (.) Harsh screamingmew, Soft jeering laugh, "heh- bisyllabic"kooeek-krm'oooo(aw)" call. like muffled peafowl or heh-heh-heh",usually The Eurasian'sharsh, single-notedex- loud catbird, given in given only at rest. citementcry, which normally is given flight or while alighting. onlyin flight or while alighting, reminds 3. Size Much larger and more Variable, but usually many people of a loud Gray Catbird robust than Mourning smaller, daintier than (Dumetellacarolinensis). It is very dif- Dove. ECD (still usuallylarger ferent from the domestic's soft but re- than Mourning). peatedchuckling sounds, usually given 4. Color Pale sandy brown with Variable, but often creamier only at rest,which gave rise to the name buffy gray neck. head, or pinker, lackingthe ' risoria '. underparts. gray tones. There is also a naturally occurring 5. Vent and cream-colored mutant of the Eurasian (.) gray, much like rest of whitish,often contrasting undertail underparts. with rest of underparts. Collared-Dove (Goodwin 1973, Mac- coveI IS donald 1984) which in plumageis much like the Ringed Turtle-Dove illustrated 6. Wings Primariesobviously darker Primaries often not much than rest of wing. in most American field guides.I have darker than restof wing. seenone near Homesteadsince 1986, 7. Tail Long, rounded or square- Often shorter, but some are and anotherin Key West. They can be looking. very long-tailed. Often identifiedin the fieldby their bulk, the looks more pointed. characteristicsof the outertail feathers, Dark basal underside Dark basal undersiderarely and especiallyby their voice. In the Ba- roughly reachestip of approachestip of undertail coverts. undertail coverts. hamas,especially on Bimini, someare abnormally dark in color bul seem to (.) Outer web of outer tail Outer web of outer tail have normal Eurasian vocalizations. feathersmostly dark. feathersmostly white. Hybrids between the Eurasian Col- 8. Behavior Usually sly. May seem Meek. Usually quite lared-Dove and the domestic varieties confiding until one tries approachable, can are well-known in European aviculture to approach. sometimesbe picked up. (Chappuis 1974). They also occurred Note:The "Ringed Turtle-Dove" isone of many phenotypes ofthe domestic collared-dove, all of which are descendants naturally in Denmark with ferai do- of the Afiican Collared-Dove. mesticswhen Eurasiansfirst appeared (*) Most consistentand dependabledifferences

Volume 41, Number 5 1375 there (F•sher 1953) S•mfiafiy, hybrids 'rlsorla' Not knowing the difference, southern Bahamas has thus far come to appear to be present •n St. Petersburg, the acquaintance acquired and dehv- my attention Florida. Birds which I believe to be hy- ered them to the prospectivebreeder. In some cases, intra-Bahamian d•s- brids have nearly the bulk and color- In December 1974, the breeder'savi- persal was man-assisted.In 1982 and aUon of the Eurasian, a similar excite- ary was broken into by youthslooking 1983, Stewart Stratton •ers. comm ), a ment cry, and a call closeto it, without for parakeets. Some of the collared- prominent conservationist living in the domestic'srolling quality but with dovesescaped, discouraging the breeder Marsh Harbour, Abaco, arrangedfor 37 a shghtquiver. Like the domestic,how- who decided to abandon his plans and EurasianCollared-Doves to be captured ever, thesehybrids usually have white release the rest of them. The exact in Nassauand releasedthere. His object or whitish undertail coverts.Thus, they number involved at the time is un- was to reducelocal hunting pressureon look much like the domestic's parent known, but it is thought to have been the White-crownedPigeon (Columba African Collared-Dove(except for sub- no more than 50 birds. Additional re- leucocephala).As of mid-1986, the tly less pinkish tones to the head and leasesmay have come from peoplewho populationin Marsh Harbour, then up breast),but sound much like the Eur- purchasedsome of the dealer's stock to several hundred, appeared to con- asian. Such hybrids may become more and found that they were less well centrate daily around his feeding op- commonplacein the United States if adapted to captivity than the usual do- eration. In December 1983, however, the Eurasians become widespread mestics(Green 1977, D. Knowlespets. E. Brinkley (in littO referredto the spe- among dove fanciers. comm., P. Maillis pets. comm.). ciesas "abundant throughoutthe Aba- Denis Knowles, a Nassau resident, cos," suggestingthat natural amval first noted Eurasian Collared-Doves probably occurred there as well. nestingon his property in the summer While it is impossible to state cate- Eurasian Collared-Dove's probable of 1975 (pets.comm.). The population gorically that Florida's population of American origin growth on the 207-squarekilometer is- Eurasian Collared-Doves arrived nat- land of New Providence was dramatic, urally from the Bahamas,it is the s•m- Rarely is it possibleto trace the spe- aided in part by dove loverswho estab- piest and most logical explanation and cific likely origin of a foreign species, lished elaborate feeding operations(A. is consistent with the normal westward for often the trail is cold long before it Sprunt IVpers. comm.). It was not long axis of the species'dispersal. Its abun- is realized that it is newly established before the birds came to the attention dance at tiny North Bimini, only about somewhere.Fortunately, because of the of localhunters; by the 1980s,organized 80 kilometersfrom the coastof Florida, explosivegrowth of the EurasianCol- dove-hunts were being held in late stronglysupports this hypothesis.The lared-Dove in the Americas, it was still summer and people were describing likelihood that it has become established possibleto locate and speak directly dove flocks as "darkening the sky" (P. by escapefrom within Florida is small with the individuals who appear pri- Maillis pets. comm.). While no formal I contacted or visited every known b•rd marily responsiblefor its arrival. At censusof the population on New Prov- wholesaler and dove breeder in south- their request, I have agreed to protect idence has been attempted, evidence ern Florida, and dozens of pet shops•n thmr anonymity. from severalsources including my own the area; none knew of or unknowingly The Bahama Islandshave a relatively observationsof density in some resi- held Eurasians. The 1986 roster of the small permanent human population dental areas suggeststhat it already AmericanDove Associationshows only (about 210,000 as of 1980, about one- may be Magnitude 5 (10,000-99,999, six of the several hundred members half of whom live on the island of New seemap). claiming to keep the species,all of Providencewhere Nassau,the capital, Given the species'history of range whom are located west of the M•ss•s- is located),and lack the affluenceand expansion,it is not surprisingthat it sippi. Roger Baker, the Association's commercialinfrastructure necessary for would disperserather quickly to other president, suggests•ers. comm.) that a viable pet trade. The 1985 Nassau islandswithin the Bahamas (see map). even this small number is probably Yellow Pageslist only one pet shopon In September1978, the specieswas first overstated,since in his experience,some New Providence,and it was no longer noted(although misidentified) at Fresh members fail to understand the d•ffer- in businessin June 1986. However, Creek, Andros, about 40 kilometers ence between it and the "wild" domes- there are a few individuals who have southwestof New Providence (Attrill tic, i.e., the African Collared-Dove In- both the means and opportunity to 1978). In July 1979, it was found at deed,three westerndove breederscon- bnng birds and other animals into the tacted me asking for Eurasianbreeding islands on an informal basis. Morgan's Bluff, Andros (D. Knowles pets. comm.), about 55 kilometers stock! The only North American zoo In the early 1970s,an individual with northwestof Fresh Creek. It is now by claiming to keep Eurasian Collared- a small pet businessin Nassau,wishing Dovesis in Calgary,Alberta (fide ISIS to establisha local breedingstock of do- far the commonestbreeding bird species at Alice Town on North Bimini. Cur- mestic collared-doves, asked an ac- 12/31/86 SpeciesDistribution Report) qumntance in a position to do so to ob- rently, EurasianCollared-Doves are also Available bird importation records and conversations with numerous dove tain ten pairs of "ring-necked doves" known to be established on Grand Ba- for him. The acquaintanceobliged on hama (West End and Freeport), Abaco fanciers and dealers uncovered no col- a subsequenttrip to The Netherlands, (includingsome offshore cays), Spanish lared-doveimportation of any kind •nto but his sourceoverseas was only able to Wells (north of Eleuthera),and on sev- the United Statesover the past20 years, supply "Indian ring-necks," the name eral of the Berry Islands northwest other than a few novel tangerine-col- by which S. decaoctois known among of New Providence. No evidence of ored domesticsdeveloped in Germany European aviculturists, rather than S. dispersal southeastward towards the and brought in via Canada (R. Burger

1376 American Birds, Winter 1987 The Bahamasare the most logicalorigin of the Eurasian Collared-Doves.here pictured in a palm, now./bundin the Americas.Photo/Reed Bowman. pers. comm.) and some Red Collared- daysin April 1981, beforedisappearing the Homesteadpopulation were derived Doves (S. tranquebarica),a small dis- from the ship in mid-occan, 400 miles from each other or representindepen- tinctive speciessometimes used in ge- east of Bermuda (Will in Casement dent dispersalfrom the Bahamas.In late netics experiments. Indeed, the com- 1983). Thus, there is no evidence that March 1987, one was even found at mercial value of collared-dovesas pets the specieshas sufficientlong-distance Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas, 110 is currently very small, usually under flight or survival capability to establish kilometerswest of Key West (M. Rob- $10 retail, and they are often available a viable overseasbreeding population ertsonpers. comm.), and isolated indi- free becausethey breed so prolifically by itself. viduals have been found in other un- in captivity. Consequently,there seems expectedplaces, such as at Flamingo in to be no incentivefor anyone to import far southwesternEverglades National any kind of collared-dove into the Current Eurasian Collared-Dove Park by my wife, S. A. Smith, in August United Statesfor commercial purposes. status in Florida 1987. On the other hand, the chance of Another population of EurasianCol- natural vagrancy of the Eurasian Col- Becauseit was supposed for several lared-Doves occurs in several locations lared-Dove to North America, even years that the collared-dovesin south- in Palm Beach County, about 100 ki- ship-assisted,is equally small. The spe- easternFlorida were domestics,no spe- lometerswest of Grand Bahama Island, cies has not colonized the Azores or cial effort was initially made to follow which may well reflect independent Canaries, and although it has bred in the Eurasian'sappearance and expan- dispersal from the Bahamas. Home- Iceland, it is not established there. An- sion (see map). It is now impossibleto stead, a greater distance away, is in a nual Icelandicbird reportspublished for determine when they first appeared. direction from which dispersal is less the years 1979-1984 (Prtursson and Collared-doves were observed in the late likely. Eurasian Collared-Doves were Skarphrthinsson1980, 1982, 1983;Pr- 1970s in the Homestead area (O. Bass noted in Delray Beach about 1982 (P. turssonand •)lafsson 1984, 1985, 1986) pers. comm.), and Eurasian Collared- Sykesin !itt.) and now are found in sev- show a total of only about six records Doves were definitely nesting there by eral locationsin the county north to Ri- over that period,some involving known 1982 (Smith and Kale 1986). The first viera Beachand westto South Bay, par- ship-transportedindividuals. Although publishedmodern collared-doverecord ticularlyaround the equestrian-oriented the specieslands on shipsin the eastern for the Keys was at Islamorada on De- community of Wellington. Another North Atlantic occasionally,especially cember 30, 1980, and 80 Eurasian Col- population is on Florida's Gulf coastin during the spring dispersalperiod, the lared-Doveswere there at a singlefeeder the Tampa Bay area. In Pinelias nearest one reported to have been in November 1985 (Smith and Kale County, Florida, and in St. Petersburg, transported toward the United States 1986). It is impossible to determine they occur in the same vicinity as the involved an individual which rode the whether the Keys' population, which feral population of domestic collared- MV King George westward for seven now extendsas far as Key West, and doves, and there is evidence from per-

Volume 4 I, Number 5 1377 Domestic(African) collared-doves (Ringed Turtle-Doves) (left) have white undertail coverts and white outer webs to theouter rectrices. This is in contrastto the EurasianCollared-Dove (right) which has gray undertailcoverts and dark outerwebs to the outerrectrices. A domestic undertailcoverts usually extend well beyond the often more restricted dark bases to theunderside of thetail. Drawing/David A. Sibley. sonal observation of apparent inter- own nearby. Domestic collared-doves Prospectsfor the future breedingof the two species.However, do not have the same homing procliv- continuedimmigration of Eurasiansto ities as domesticpigeons, however, and The Eurasian Collared-Dove's colo- the area probably limits introgression some left looseby their ownerswander nization of Western Europe has been from domestics, and very few birds off, sometimesbeing observed by bird- continuing for more than 50 years. there currently show intermediate ers before becomingprey for a neigh- There, a pair annually raisesthree to characteristics.At least25 pairs are now borhood cat or passinghawk. six broods,each usually of two (Cramp in Pasco County, on the Gulf coast While the Florida populationof Eur- and Simmons 1985). In subtropical north of Tarpon Springs, where they asian Collared-Doves has not been for- Florida and the Bahamas,with a limited were first noted about 1983 (D. Good- mally censused,in 1987 it is certainly native avifauna and paucity of preda- win pers. comm.). In Hillsborough at least Magnitude 4 (1000-9999) and tors,reproductive success should at least County, where Eurasianswere located perhapsalready Magnitude 5 (10,000- equal that in Europe. Breedingseems near Ruskin on the eastshore of Tampa 99,999). In the Homestead area alone, to be occurring almost year round, ex- Bay in 1986 (R. Paul in lift.), a small I estimate the breeding population in cept during the autumn when molt is but vigorouspopulation is now present. 1987 to be well over 1000 pairs. It is in progress.In PascoCounty, predation Small numbers were also discovered in spreadout erratically over more than a by Fish Crows(Corvus ossifragus) has 1987 near Cleveland, Charlotte County 200-square kilometer suburban and been reported (D. Goodwin pers. (W. Hoffmann,fide R. Bowman). agriculturalregion primarily southand comm.). Corvid predation, noted also All reports of collared-dovesthat I west of the city, but also northeast as in Europe(e.g., Macdonald 1984), does received from northern Florida and the far as Cutler Ridge, Dade County. A not appear to have materially slowed restof North America followinga 1986 few were seenon Key Biscaynesouth- the Eurasian Collared-Dove's expansion appealappear to refer to domestics.All east of Miami in the late summer of there. collared-dove specimensfrom Florida 1986, but were thought to have fallen Thus, although there are no assur- known to me taken prior to those col- prey to the heavyfall raptor flight there ances,there is every reasonto believe lected in Florida City in 1986 (Smith (B. Neville pers. comm.). The popula- that the specieswill spreadhere in much and Kale 1986) are S. 'risoria'. As mention in Monroe County (the Florida the same fashion as in Europe. Even- tioned by Smith and Kale (1986), do- Keys) is comprisedof at least several tually it couldspan the North American mesticcollared-doves are frequently re- hundredpairs, chiefly at Islamoradaand continent,as has the EuropeanStarling leasedin wedding and other religious Key West, but alsoat Key Largo, Mar- (Sturnusvulgaris) and the Cattle Egret ceremonies,and by breederswho find athon, and most other inhabited keys. (Bubulcusibis). Becausedispersal is that they multiply as fast as the prover- The population in the Palm Beacharea primarily westward,it may take a few bial rabbit. Moreover, as stated previ- and on Florida's Gulf coast total at least moreyears before the speciesbreaks out ously,some peoplekeep their flock of a few hundred additional pairs. Un- of the Florida peninsula. However, ex- dovesat liberty, leadingto observations doubtedly,other outpostsare yet to be pansionthen mightoccur rapidly across in the vicinity of the aviary;sometimes, discovered or will be established in the the southeastern states because of the members of the flock breed on their next few years. region'smany small towns and exten-

1378 AmericanBirds, Winter 1987 s•vefarming economy. Indeed, after this BAILEY, H H 1922 New addition to RIDGWAY, R 1916 B•rds of North and article was written, a crediblereport was A O U Check-hst of North American M•ddle America Part 7 Bulletin of the receivedthat a smallcolony of Eurasian Birds. Oologist 39:91. United States Natrenal Museum, Wash- __. 1935. A new race of Ringed Turtle ington, D.C. Collared-Doves was discovered in late Dove (Streptopeliarisoria) in the United SHARROCK, J. T. R. 1976. The Atlas of 1987 near Fort Walton Beach in the States. Bailey Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. BreedingBirds in Britain and Ireland T Florida panhandle,about 800 kilome- 9:1-2. & A.D. Poyser, Berkhamstead. ters northwest of Homestead (P. Sykes CASEMENT, M. B. 1983. Landbirdsfrom et al. 1987. EuropeanNews. Br. Birds pers. comm.). ships at sea 1981-82. Sea Swallow 32: 80:9-15. If the United Statespopulation of the 23-41. SHELLEY, G. E. 1883.On the Columb•dae Eurasian Collared-Dove in 1987 is CHAPPUIS, C. 1974. [Recordedexamples of the EthiopianRegion. Ibis (5)1:258- of somebioacoustical questions presented 331. about 10,000, simple geometricexpan- by the birds of the Ethiopian region]. SMITH, P. W. and H. W. KALE II. 1986 sion would suggesta population in ex- Alauda 42:197-222. Eurasian Collared-Doves collected •n cessof 40,000,000 by the year 2000 if CRAMP, S. and K. E. L. SIMMONS. 1985. Florida. Fla. Field Naturalist 14:104- equfiibriumis not reachedearlierß This Handbook of the birds of Europe, the 107. figure, however,should not be inter- Middle East, and North Africa. Vol. IV. WHITE, T. 1986. CollaredDove: The Next preted as a forecast,for biologicalor Oxford University Press,Oxford. New North American Species?Bir&ng 18:150-152. other controlsshould beginto limit the FISHER, J. 1953. The Collared Turtle Dove in Europe. Br. Birds 46:153-181. ZEUNER, F. E. 1963. A History of Do- population soonerßThe speciesis po- GOODWIN, D. 1952. The Barbary Dove. mesticatedAnimals. Harper & Row, New tentially attractive as a gamebird, so A viculturalMag. 58:145- 147. York. runawaygrowth to the point of its be- __. 1973. The buff variety of the Collared coming an agriculturalpest seemsan Dove. Br. Birds. 66:373-376. unhkelyprospect. It is not particularly __. 1983. Pigeonsand dovesof the world. --South Florida Research Center, fond of urban areas, so it also seems 3rd Ed. Cornell University Press,Ithaca. EvergladesNational Park, P.O. Box GREEN, C. 1977. The exotic birds of New 279, Homestead, FL 33030 unhkelyto becomean urban pest.Nev- Providence.Bahamas Naturalist 2(2): 11- ertheless,its statusshould be monitored 16. by agriculturaland wildlife interests, GRIMES, S. A. 1953. The Ringed Dove, and its interaction with American spe- Streptopelia risoria, nesting in Florida. cies should be studied. Perhaps better Fla. Naturalist 26:191,205. than any other avian species,the Eur- GRINNELL, J. 1929. Ringed Turtle Dove asian Collared-Dove has learned to at largein Los Angeles.Condor 31:130- 131. thrive symbioticallywith man. On that HARTERT, E. 1916. Notes on pigeons. basis alone, one can predict that it Novitates Zool. 23:78-88. should do exceedingly well in the HOFFMANN, E. 1986. Notes on domesti- Americas. cation of barnyard birds. Am. Pheasant and WaterfowlSoc. Mag. 86(8):12-17. HORN, H. H. 1931. Birds on Star Island, Miami Beach. Fla. Woods and Waters. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Springissue: 23, 42. LANGDON, S. H. 1931. The mythologyof I wish to thank the many people in all races. Vol. V: Semitic. Marshall Jones avlculture and the pet trade, the nu- & Co., Boston. merous ornithologists and birders in MACDONALD, D. 1984. Notes on the Florida and elsewhere,and especially Collared Dove in southeast Sunderland. Scot. Birds 13:48-51. the several residents of the Bahamas, NOWAK, E. 1971. The range expansionof who contributed the information from animalsand its causes.Zeszyty Naukowe which this account was prepared.They 3:1-255. are far too numerous to mention indi- PARSLOW, J. 1973. Breedingbirds of Brit- mdually, but their assistancehas been ain and Ireland. T. & A.D. Poyser,Berk- •nvaluable. The range map was pre- hamstead. pared by Susan A. Smith. Photos and P•TURSSON, G. and E. 0LAFSSON. filustrationswere contributed by Reed 1984. [Rare birds in Iceland in 1982]. Bliki 3:15-44. Bowman and David Sibley. William B. __. 1985. [Rarebirds in Icelandin 1983]. Robertson Jr. critically reviewed an Bliki 4:13-39. earlierdraft of the paper.This work was __. 1986. [Rare birdsin Icelandin 1984]. made possiblein part by the Allen D. Bliki 5:19-46. and Helen G. Cruickshank Award from Pf•TURSSON,G. and K. H. SKAR- the Florida OrnithologicalSociety. PH•THINSSON. 1980.[Rare birds in Iceland in 1979]. Nfittfirufnethistofinn •slands,Reykjavik. 35 pp. ß 1982. [Rare birdsin Icelandin 1980]. LITERATURE CITED Nfittfirufnethistofinn•slands, Reykjavik. ATTRILL, R. 1978. Bahamas National 51 pp. Trust newsletterOctober 6th, 1978. Nas- __. 1983.[Rare birds in Icelandin 1981]. sau. 2pp. Bliki 1:17-39.

Volume41, Number 5 1379 Aliaben-Confer

Atlantic Puffins{Fratercula arctica) "Prospectingfor New Homes Under an Old Relic" JWitlessBay, NewfoundlandJ 500 S/N - 25 APsß 24' x 17V2'image ß $100 US* ß$135 Canadian "Observingbirdsaliveintheir natural, untrammeled environmentinspiresthe most revealing,the most genuine interpretationof their livesin art. To accurately depict Fratercu/aarctica, I spent a month living on an island in the north Atlantic,with 300,000nesting Puffins, sketching and takingextensive notes. It was thrillingbeyond description to observeyoung Puffins -- newlypaired and on land for the firstt•me •n fouryears -- prospectingfor theirfirst nest site to which they would returnfor manyyears." Thisquality limited edition is reproducedon acid-freepaper from an original pastel, pencil, and watercolor painting selected for the 1985 "Birdsin Art" exhibitionat the LeighYawkey Woodson Art Museum,VVausau, VVisc. and for its 1985-86 tour of the U.S.

Order from: Karen L. Aliaben-Confer R.D. 1 Hammond Hill Rd.. Brooktondale. New York 14817 .oods 607-539-6308

*NYS residents add 7% sales tax