{"id":17768,"date":"2022-06-22T08:00:08","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T06:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=8425"},"modified":"2022-06-22T08:29:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T06:29:13","slug":"collared-dove-guide-how-to-identify-the-connection-to-an-ancient-greek-legend-and-when-they-arrived-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/collared-dove-guide-how-to-identify-the-connection-to-an-ancient-greek-legend-and-when-they-arrived-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Collared dove guide: how to identify, the connection to an Ancient Greek legend, and when they arrived in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 22 June 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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A familiar garden bird to many, the Eurasian collared dove (usually just referred to as the collared dove in the UK) actually only started breeding in the UK in recent decades. It is smaller than the large woodpigeon, and larger than the closely related European turtle dove.<\/p>\n

As the common name suggests, they are widely found across much of Europe and Asia, including Turkey, southern China, India, Sri Lanka and now across Germany, France, Spain and the UK.<\/p>\n

What is the scientific name of the collared dove?<\/h2>\n

The scientific name of the collared dove is Streptopelia decaocto<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Streptopelia<\/em>\u2019 is derived from two Ancient Greek words, \u2018streptos<\/em>\u2019 meaning \u2018collar\u2019 and \u2018peleia<\/em>\u2019 meaning \u2018dove\u2019. Whilst the specific name \u2018decaocto<\/em>\u2019 comes from a myth and its call. The myth describes how a maid complained about her very low wage of \u2018decaocto\u2019 (eighteen) pieces. The dove was created by the god Zeus to shame her mistress.<\/p>\n

The collared dove belongs to the same genus as turtle doves and other collared dove species.<\/p>\n

How to identify a collared dove<\/h2>\n
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Collared doves are easily recognised by the black half-collar on their necks.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a9 John Harding\/BTO<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Collared doves are smaller and more delicate-looking than woodpigeons<\/a>, with creamy grey-buff plumage. Adults have a black half-collar on the back of their necks.<\/p>\n

Their typical call is a clear and persistent three note \u2018coo coo cuk\u2019.<\/p>\n

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