Doves In Belarus: What's The Deal?

Belarus is a country of diverse landscapes, from the deciduous and coniferous forests in the north to the marshland around the Pripyat River in the south. It is home to a wide array of wildlife, including around 76 species of vertebrate animals and 300 species of birds.

One bird species native to Belarus is the Eurasian collared dove, which is also found in Asia and northern Africa. This medium-sized dove has a black half-collar edged with white on its nape, grey-buff to pinkish-grey colouring, and red eyes. It is a non-migratory species that often breeds close to human habitation, and its call is a three-syllable goo-GOO-goo.

Eurasian Collared Doves are native to Belarus and are one of the most interesting birds in the country

Belarus is a panorama of deciduous and coniferous forests, with over 300 bird species. One of the most interesting birds in the country is the Eurasian Collared Dove, a native species with a fascinating history and several unique characteristics.

The Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is a medium-sized dove, smaller than a wood pigeon but larger than a European turtle dove, with an average length of 32 cm. It has a distinctive appearance, with grey-buff to pinkish-grey colouring, a black half-collar on the nape, short red legs, and a black bill. Its eyes are red, but from a distance, they appear black due to the large pupil and narrow reddish-brown iris.

This dove species has a unique drinking technique, using its beak as a straw rather than tipping its head back like most birds. Its call is a distinctive three-note cooing, which has earned it the nickname of "Turkish dove" in several European languages. It also makes a harsh, loud screeching call, particularly when landing.

The Eurasian Collared Dove is native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, and has spread worldwide due to a series of unlikely events. It was first described by the Hungarian naturalist Imre Frivaldszky in 1838, who considered it a wild variety of the domesticated Barbary dove. Over the last century, it has become one of the great colonisers of the bird world, travelling far beyond its original range. It has now established permanent populations in colder countries, including North and Central America, Japan, and the Caribbean islands.

In Belarus, the dove is commonly found near human habitation, especially in areas with abundant food resources and trees for nesting. It is a gregarious species, often forming sizable flocks around food sources such as grain, seeds, shoots, and insects. The Eurasian Collared Dove is a monogamous species, with males and females sharing parental duties. It is also a prolific breeder, capable of producing up to six broods in a year.

With its interesting history, distinctive appearance, and wide-ranging impact, the Eurasian Collared Dove is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating bird species in Belarus.

Eurasian Collared Doves are medium-sized doves, smaller than wood pigeons but larger than European turtle doves

The Eurasian collared dove is a medium-sized dove, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It has been introduced to Japan, North and Central America, and the Caribbean islands. This dove species is smaller than the wood pigeon, which is the largest pigeon found in Belarus. The Eurasian collared dove is also similar in length to a rock dove but is slimmer and longer-tailed. It is slightly larger than the European turtle dove, which is another dove species found in Belarus.

The Eurasian collared dove has a distinctive appearance, with a black half-collar edged with white on the nape of its neck, giving it its name. Its overall colouring is grey-buff to pinkish-grey, with darker upper parts and a blue-grey underwing patch. The tail feathers are grey-buff above and dark grey with white tips below. The outer tail feathers also have white tips on the upper side. The legs are short and red, and the bill and eyes are black. The iris is red, although from a distance, the eyes appear black due to the large pupil. The Eurasian collared dove has a small head, a plump body, and a long tail. It typically measures between 32-35 cm in length, with a wingspan of 35-55 cm and a weight of 125-240 g.

The Eurasian collared dove is an interesting bird with some unique characteristics. It is known for its incessant three-syllable cooing call, which has been described as "goo-GOO-goo", with stress on the second syllable. It also makes a harsh, loud screeching call when in flight, just before landing. This dove species often feeds on the ground and is commonly found in residential areas, where it forages for seeds and grain. It is also known to feed at backyard seed feeders and on spilled grain around silos and farmyards.

In Belarus, the Eurasian collared dove is one of the 352 bird species recorded in the country. It is native to the region and can be found in various habitats, including residential areas and farmland.

Eurasian Collared Doves have a distinct three-syllable song and a harsh loud screeching call

The Eurasian collared dove, often simply called the collared dove, is a medium-sized dove species native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It has a distinct three-syllable song, "goo-GOO-goo", with stress on the second syllable. In addition, it makes a harsh, loud screeching call lasting about two seconds, particularly when in flight just before landing. This call has been described as a rough "hah-hah" sound.

The Eurasian collared dove is closely related to the Sunda collared dove of Southeast Asia and the African collared dove of Sub-Saharan Africa, forming a superspecies with these doves. While the African collared dove has a soft purring call, the Eurasian collared dove's three-note cooing is very distinct.

The Eurasian collared dove's generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek "streptos", meaning collar, and "peleia", meaning dove. The specific epithet "decaocto" is Greek for "eighteen", which is also reflected in its three-syllable song.

These doves are not wary and often feed very close to human habitation, including bird tables. They are gregarious and form sizeable flocks, typically ranging from 10 to 50 individuals but sometimes reaching up to 10,000.

Eurasian Collared Doves are monogamous and share parental duties

Eurasian Collared Doves are monogamous birds that share parental duties. They are native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, and have also been introduced to the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. They are medium-sized doves, smaller than wood pigeons, with an average length of 32 cm, a wingspan of 47-55 cm, and a weight of 125-240 g. They are grey-buff to pinkish-grey, with darker upper parts, a blue-grey underwing patch, and a distinctive black half-collar edged with white on the nape. The legs are red, the bill is black, and the eyes appear black from a distance, though the iris is actually red.

These doves typically breed close to human habitation, where food is abundant and trees are available for nesting. The male and female share the duties of incubating their two white eggs, with the female incubating at night and the male during the day. The incubation period lasts between 14 and 18 days, and the young fledge after 15 to 19 days. Eurasian Collared Doves may produce up to six broods per year, and both sexes may renovate old nests.

The male's mating display involves a rapid, near-vertical climb followed by a long glide downward in a circle, with the wings held below the body in an inverted "V" shape. The male advertises for a mate with a low-pitched, slow "koo-KOO-kook" call, which is also used to show potential nest sites to the female. The male brings the female nesting materials, and the female builds a simple platform nest.

Eurasian Collared Doves are gregarious and often feed close to human habitation, including bird tables. They mainly eat seeds and cereal grains, but also consume berries, green parts of plants, and invertebrates. They are ground foragers and will visit bird feeders, especially those with sunflower seeds. They utter a three-note call, "krou-koou-kou", and give a harsh, loud screeching call lasting about two seconds, particularly in flight just before landing.

Eurasian Collared Doves are not wary and often feed very close to human habitation

Eurasian collared doves are native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. They are medium-sized doves, smaller than wood pigeons, with an average length of 32 cm. They are grey-buff to pinkish-grey in colour, with a blue-grey underwing patch, and a black half-collar on the nape, from which they get their name.

Eurasian collared doves are not wary birds and are often found very close to human habitation. They typically breed near human homes, with almost all nests within 1 km of inhabited buildings. They are also commonly found around farms, where they feed on spilt grain. They are gregarious birds, and sizeable flocks form around food sources such as grain, seeds, shoots, and insects. Flocks usually number between 10 and 50 birds, but flocks of up to 10,000 have been recorded.

The doves are not migratory but are strongly dispersive. Over the last century, they have spread far beyond their original range, becoming permanent residents in several colder countries. They have colonised parts of Europe, North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Japan. In North America, they have spread rapidly, with a population growth rate more than double that observed in Europe.

Eurasian collared doves are monogamous and share parental duties. They breed throughout the year when abundant food is available, though only rarely in winter in areas with cold winters. They typically produce three to four broods per year, though up to six broods have been recorded. The female lays two white eggs, which are incubated by the female at night and the male during the day.

Eurasian collared doves are just one of the many bird species found in Belarus. The country is home to a rich diversity of avifauna, with over 300 bird species recorded.

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