Eurasian Collared-Doves: Identification and Feeding
Eurasian collared-doves are pale, sandy gray doves with a thin black collar on the back of the neck. They aren't native. They reached Florida in the 1980s and have spread to nearly every state, often visiting feeders alongside mourning doves.
What they eat
Collared-doves eat seeds and grain on the ground or on platforms: millet, sunflower, safflower, and cracked corn.
Cardinals love safflower. Squirrels, grackles, and starlings usually don't, which makes it a smart seed for feeders that get raided.
Check price on Amazon for Wagner's Safflower Seed (opens Amazon)An open tray feeder that welcomes the widest range of birds, including cardinals, doves, jays, and juncos that prefer to feed in the open.
Check price on Amazon for Woodlink 3-in-1 Platform Feeder (opens Amazon)Collared-dove or mourning dove?
Collared-doves are bigger and paler, with a black collar and a square-tipped tail. Mourning doves are slimmer, with black spots on the wings and a long, pointed tail.
Their calls differ too: collared-doves repeat a three-part “coo-COO-coo,” while mourning doves give a soft, sad “coo-OO-oo, oo, oo.”
Frequently asked questions
Are Eurasian collared-doves invasive?
They're an introduced species. So far, studies haven't shown major harm to native doves, but scientists are still watching.
Do collared-doves migrate?
No. They stay all year wherever they live.
How can I keep doves from eating all the seed?
Use tube feeders with short perches and skip ground feeding for a while.
Not sure which feeder fits your yard?
Answer three quick questions and we'll match you with the right setup.