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Subject: Eurasian Collared Dove [Print This Page]

Author: kkchang168 Time: 6/06/2013 00:56 Subject: Eurasian Collared Dove

Dear all,

Below is a photo taken in 2013-05-06 in MP access road. I finally confirmed that it is an Eurasian Collared Dove.

I think I have the same problem of some of the others that whether it is a Eurasian Collared Dove or a Red Turtle Dove. After some search on the internet, it is quite easy to find the answer that from the eyes we can easily distinguish them. For Red Turtle Dove, the eye is nearly black. For Eurasian Collared Dove, "Bill black ; irides crimson; orbitar skin whitish ; feet dark pink- red." (http://avis.indianbiodiversity.org/columbiformes-columbidae-pigeons-and-doves/eurasian-collared-dove-streptopelia-decaocto.html).

Then I noticed that there are two subspecies of Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto decaocto and Streptopelia decaocto xanthocycla. I try to find the difference between the two and from http://avis.indianbiodiversity.org/indian-pigeons-and-doves-1913/burmese-ring-dove-streptopelia-risoria-xanthocycla.html, it said that Streptopelia decaocto xanthocycla has "remarkable yellow rings of bare skin round its eyes" while the skin round the eye for Streptopelia decaocto decaocto is "colored grayish-white, with no sign of yellow".

The photo taken show yellow rings of bare skin round the eyes, so it is Streptopelia decaocto xanthocycla. I tried to see Eurasian Collared Dove posted in HKBWS and see that some have yellow rings and some has grayish-white rings round the eyes. So both subspecies exist in HK?

I know that the information found in the internet may not be accurate and so I post this articles and hope that some experienced or professional people can clarify it. Thanks in advance.

[ Last edited by kkchang168 at 6/06/2013 00:59 ]

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Author: ajohn Time: 6/06/2013 08:39

For your future reference, the easiest ways to separate Eurasian Collared Dove from Red Turtle Dove are size, structure and tail pattern.
- Red Turtle Dove is tiny - it often looks almost as small as a starling - while Eurasian Collared Dove is much larger, slightly bigger than a Spotted Dove. - Red Turtle Dove is fairly short tailed, whereas Eurasian is longer-tailed, again looking structurally more like Spotted Dove.
- The tail pattern of Red Turtle Dove (when seen in flight) looks like the tail is surrounded by white, with an even fringe of white around the tip of the tail (http://orientalbirdimages.org/se ... e_ID=55631&p=25). On Eurasian, the tail usually looks like it has large white 'corners' with little white on the inner tail feathers and the white of the outer tail is less obvious (http://orientalbirdimages.org/se ... Family_ID=&p=47). Eurasian Collared Dove has a lot of white on the undertail (at least half of the tail), which is visible on your photo.
- It is also useful to note that the underwing of Eurasian Collared Dove is white, which can be very obvious in flight (http://orientalbirdimages.org/se ... Family_ID=&p=45)

Typically, Eurasian Collared Dove in the field looks like a larger, paler bird than Red Turtle Dove. Once you are familiar, this is easy to recognise in the field (much easier than looking in detail for the colour of the iris!)

You've done some good research on subspecies. I think, though, that the Hong Kong population only contains decaocto. Some birds may show a hint of yellow in the orbital ring, as on your bird, but I think the critical differences between the two are the width of the orbital ring and the intensity of the yellow - compare this xanthocycla from Myanmar: http://orientalbirdimages.org/se ... _ID=&pagesize=1 . Birds like this certainly don't seem to be present in Hong Kong.

Author: kkchang168 Time: 6/06/2013 17:25

Thanks for your clarification. Much appreciated.

Author: wgeoff Time: 6/06/2013 17:59

Red Turtle Dove on Po Toi today (6 June)

I had trouble separating Collared and Red Turtle Dove when I first started birdwatching here.
The clue is, not to look at the collar (it's the same for both) or the eye - much too small to see.

As John says, the difference is in body colour, size and tail length.
Red Turtle Dove is small, much smaller than Collared or Spotted, and has a darker body colour than Collared and a much shorter tail.
Once you work on these, it's quite easy.

Red Turtle Dove has a habit of turning up on Po Toi in late May or early June - the last record in each year has been 18 May 2006, 12 June 2007, 22 May 2008, 25 May 2009, 24 May 2010, 19 May 2011 and now 6 June 2013, often the last migrant species to be seen. Not obvious from Avifauna, I wonder where they are coming from?

By the way, I was only there to clean up and bring back my gear. Nothing else to see except this bird.

[ Last edited by wgeoff at 7/06/2013 06:13 ]

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