Ring-Necked Dove vs Eurasian Collared Dove

Ring-Necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Also known as: Cape Turtle Dove, Half-Collared Dove

How to recognise a ring-necked dove?

General appearance

The ring-necked dove, often also called the Cape turtle dove or half-collared dove, stands out with its soft grey-beige plumage, underlined by a thin, black neck ring. Adults are around 25-26.5 cm in length and have broad, bright white edges on their long, pointed tail feathers. It has black eyes, red feet and legs, plus a black beak.

Male vs female

Male and female ring-necked doves look incredibly alike, both sporting the same, pale grey-brown coloration and diagnostic black ring around their neck. Subtle differences are noted in size, with males being slightly larger and usually exhibiting more robust neck rings, compared to the narrower band seen on the females.

Juvenile

Juvenile ring-necked doves possess an overall grey color, more washed out than the adults, and lack the distinctive neck ring. Their bill is more greyish, gradually turning to black as they mature, and their eye color is initially a dull brown, later changing to their iconic black. The tail feathers are also less pointy in their younger years.

Size

9.8 - 10.4 in/3.7 - 7.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The ring-necked dove predominantly inhabits South Africa. It prefers Savannas, subtropical forests, moist woodlands, and semi-desert regions.

Additional range

Additionally, it has shown resilience occupying non-traditional areas such as urban and suburban environments, adapting well to the presence of humans.

Range Map

What do ring-necked doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The ring-necked dove primarily feeds on a diet composed of seeds, which are a major component. They also consume small fruits and berries when available in their natural habitats. The birds forage mostly on the ground, picking up seeds from grasses and other plants. They occasionally eat small insects and snails, supplementing their diet with protein, especially when breeding.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, ring-necked doves are commonly attracted to grains and seeds. They tend to favor millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds, which are regularly offered in birdseed mixes. These birds are ground feeders, so platform feeders or scattered seed on the ground is ideal for attracting them to backyard feeding stations.

What does a ring-necked dove sound like?

The ring-necked dove typically vocalizes a delicate, mournful, cooing song consisting of five parts - coo-COO-coo, followed by a pause, then a final coo-COO. Its call, a soft 'hoo', is often mistaken for an owl. Males use these melodic calls to establish territory or attract mates, especially during breeding season. Interactions between doves can lead to a variety of other unique cooing patterns.

Call

Audio by MilesWelsh

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

How to recognise a Eurasian collared dove?

General appearance

The Eurasian collared dove measures approximately 12 1/2 inches (32 cm) in length. Its predominant color is pale brown, with a distinctive narrow black ring around its neck. It has large white patches on its outer tail feathers. The species is darker than the domesticated Ringed-Turtle-Dove, especially on undertail coverts and wingtips. The size is roughly equivalent to that of a crow. The wings are of a broad and pointed shape, and the tail shape is generally rounded or square-tipped.

Male vs female

There are minimal noticeable differences between the sexes in the Eurasian collared dove. Both males and females exhibit similar features such as the black neck ring, pale brown body color, and white patches on the tail. Any variation is subtle and generally indistinguishable in the wild.

Juvenile

Juvenile Eurasian collared doves are similar in size and color to adults, but they may have slightly duller coloration. Recognizing them may be challenging due to their resemblance to adult birds until they attain their distinctive adult plumage.

Size

11.4 - 11.8 in/4.9 - 6.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Eurasian collared dove typically inhabits suburbs and farmland, especially those with a mixture of trees and open ground. It seems to thrive better in small towns than in larger cities.

Additional range

In its original Asian range, it's found in semi-open dry country with scattered trees and groves. They are versatile and adaptable, able to live in a variety of environments including wood edges and open country.

Range Map

What do Eurasian collared doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The Eurasian collared dove primarily consumes a diet consisting mostly of seeds, with additional intake of some berries and insects. In North America, the specific details of their diet are not yet well known. In Europe, they are known to feed on waste grain from many cultivated crops, alongside seeds from various plants. Their diet may also occasionally include some berries and small insects, with snails being consumed rarely.

Bird feeders

While feeding at bird feeders, Eurasian collared doves are known to consume bread crumbs and other foods provided by humans. This behavior indicates their adaptability to supplementary food sources made available in human-inhabited environments.

What does a Eurasian collared dove sound like?

The Eurasian collared dove typically produces a deep, rhythmic kuk-kooooo-kuk call, which heavily emphasizes the middle syllable. This call generally portrays a flat pattern and is categorized as a hoot type. Additionally, the dove can emit a harsh, mewing nasal call note, compared by many observers to the high-volume call of a Gray Catbird. Its vocalizations, therefore, blend unique elements of distinctness and familiarity.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Gabriel Leite

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Ring-Necked Dove

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Eurasian Collared Dove

Ring-Necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Also known as: Cape Turtle Dove, Half-Collared Dove

General appearance

The ring-necked dove, often also called the Cape turtle dove or half-collared dove, stands out with its soft grey-beige plumage, underlined by a thin, black neck ring. Adults are around 25-26.5 cm in length and have broad, bright white edges on their long, pointed tail feathers. It has black eyes, red feet and legs, plus a black beak.

Male vs female

Male and female ring-necked doves look incredibly alike, both sporting the same, pale grey-brown coloration and diagnostic black ring around their neck. Subtle differences are noted in size, with males being slightly larger and usually exhibiting more robust neck rings, compared to the narrower band seen on the females.

Juvenile

Juvenile ring-necked doves possess an overall grey color, more washed out than the adults, and lack the distinctive neck ring. Their bill is more greyish, gradually turning to black as they mature, and their eye color is initially a dull brown, later changing to their iconic black. The tail feathers are also less pointy in their younger years.

Size

9.8 - 10.4 in/3.7 - 7.1 oz

There's more to learn about Ring-Necked Dove

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Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

General appearance

The Eurasian collared dove measures approximately 12 1/2 inches (32 cm) in length. Its predominant color is pale brown, with a distinctive narrow black ring around its neck. It has large white patches on its outer tail feathers. The species is darker than the domesticated Ringed-Turtle-Dove, especially on undertail coverts and wingtips. The size is roughly equivalent to that of a crow. The wings are of a broad and pointed shape, and the tail shape is generally rounded or square-tipped.

Male vs female

There are minimal noticeable differences between the sexes in the Eurasian collared dove. Both males and females exhibit similar features such as the black neck ring, pale brown body color, and white patches on the tail. Any variation is subtle and generally indistinguishable in the wild.

Juvenile

Juvenile Eurasian collared doves are similar in size and color to adults, but they may have slightly duller coloration. Recognizing them may be challenging due to their resemblance to adult birds until they attain their distinctive adult plumage.

Size

11.4 - 11.8 in/4.9 - 6.3 oz

There's more to learn about Eurasian Collared Dove

View full details

How to tell the Ring-Necked Dove from the Eurasian Collared Dove

Visual differences

The Ring-Necked Dove is smaller, measuring 9.8 to 10.4 inches, compared to the 11.4 to 11.8 inches of the Eurasian Collared Dove. The Ring-Necked Dove has a soft grey-beige plumage with bright white tail edges, while the Eurasian Collared Dove is pale brown with large white patches on its outer tail feathers. Both have a black neck ring, but the Eurasian Collared Dove's plumage is slightly darker. The Ring-Necked Dove has black eyes and a black beak, whereas features might vary slightly in the Eurasian Collared Dove.

Key differences and behavior

The Ring-Necked Dove (Streptopelia capicola) and the Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) differ in behavior and habitat. The Ring-Necked Dove, native to South Africa, prefers moist woodlands and savannas, often near water, while the Eurasian Collared Dove thrives in suburban and farmland areas globally. Ring-Necked Doves are known for their head-bobbing walk and communal roosting near water, whereas the Eurasian Collared Dove is more adaptable to urban settings, thriving better in small towns. Both species are seed-eaters but differ in nesting; Ring-Necked Doves build loose platforms low in trees or structures, and Eurasian Collared Doves construct flimsy nests higher up, rearing multiple broods. Courtship in Ring-Necked Doves involves elaborate displays, while Eurasian Collared Doves use steep flights and bowing rituals. Both species exhibit strong pair bonds and parental care, sharing incubation and feeding duties.

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Ring-Necked Dove or Eurasian Collared Dove?

Ring-Necked Dove

How to recognise a ring-necked dove?

Habitat

What do ring-necked doves like to eat?

What does a ring-necked dove sound like?

Call

There's more to learn about Ring-Necked Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

How to recognise a Eurasian collared dove?

Habitat

What do Eurasian collared doves like to eat?

What does a Eurasian collared dove sound like?

Call

Song

Song

Song

There's more to learn about Eurasian Collared Dove

Ring-Necked Dove

There's more to learn about Ring-Necked Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

There's more to learn about Eurasian Collared Dove

How to tell the Ring-Necked Dove from the Eurasian Collared Dove

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

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