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Eurasian collared-dove

Streptopelia decaocto · Doves and pigeons · Migratory game birds

Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto): 11.4-12.6 in; pale brown-gray dove with a narrow black ring on the back of the neck. Big white patches in the outer tail feathers; tail squared or slightly rounded. This profile does not establish whether taking it is legal anywhere.

Check rules for a place and dateOpen the eurasian collared-dove map

Certified rules currently represented in Hunt: coverage in development. This is coverage, not a legal answer.

Eurasian collared-dove perched with its back partly turned
Photo by Marco Soffientini on Unsplash
Scientific name
Streptopelia decaocto
Family
Columbidae
Range
Introduced: reached the Bahamas in 1974, then Florida, and has since spread west and north across much of North America to Oregon and Washington; the Northeast has only scattered strays. Alaska's hunting regulations list it as deleterious exotic wildlife, with no closed season and no limit.
Biology

How to identify it

11.4-12.6 in; pale brown-gray dove with a narrow black ring on the back of the neck. [1][2]

Big white patches in the outer tail feathers; tail squared or slightly rounded. [1][2]

Call a deep, repeated 'kuk-KOOOO-kuk'; also a harsh, mewing nasal note. [1][2]

Compared with the mourning dove: Look for the collared-dove's narrow black neck ring and big white patches in the squared outer tail. [1][2]

Species it is confused with

Check these before deciding what you are looking at. If you are not certain what it is, do not shoot.

Field notes

  • Identification Do not identify Eurasian collared-dove from colour alone. Compare structure, size, range and the listed similar species before making a field decision.[1][2]
Field knowledge

Where it lives

Residential areas and farmland with a mix of trees and open ground; thrives better in small towns than large cities. [1][2]

Field knowledge

How it behaves

Forages mostly while walking on the ground, in flocks outside the breeding season; eats mainly seeds and waste grain, some berries and insects. [1][2]

Male display flight: steep climb with noisy wingbeats, then a spiral glide with wings and tail spread. [1][2]

No regular migration; young birds disperse long distances, driving the species' spread. [1][2]

Regulatory handoff

Where it is listed for legal take

These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.

Where legal take is listed

Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.

Geospatial intelligence

Where it is found

Introduced: reached the Bahamas in 1974, then Florida, and has since spread west and north across much of North America to Oregon and Washington; the Northeast has only scattered strays. Alaska's hunting regulations list it as deleterious exotic wildlife, with no closed season and no limit.

Biology

Sources

Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.

  1. National Audubon Society · reviewed 2026-09-30

    National Audubon Society

  2. Alaska Department of Fish and Game · reviewed 2026-09-30

    Alaska Department of Fish and Game