Breeding birds: 990,000 pairs
Family: Pigeons And Doves
The adult collared dove has buffy-grey upperparts with a grey back. Its flight feathers are dark brown with a blue-grey leading edge. The underparts are pale grey, with a pinkish flush on the chin, throat, and chest. The undertail feathers are dark grey at the base with nearly white tips, while the underwings are a very pale grey.
On the head, the forehead and crown are pale grey, and the nape and sides of the neck are pinkish, with a distinctive black half-collar edged with white. The bill is black, the eyes are dark red with a white eye-ring, and the legs and feet are pink. Males and females look alike, though females may have a slightly browner head.
Juvenile collared doves resemble adults but have lighter plumage and lack the black neck collar.
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Collared doves typically breed from March to September, but in mild weather and where food is plentiful, they may nest throughout the year. They usually raise three to four broods per season, though as many as six have been recorded. They are monogamous, forming lifelong pair bonds.
Breeding usually takes place near human habitation, provided there are suitable trees available. The nest is built in the fork of a tree or shrub, up to 20 metres above the ground. Both the male and female contribute to building the nest, which is a loose platform made of twigs, stems, and roots, occasionally lined with grass. Some nests are so flimsy that eggs or chicks may fall through the gaps.
They lay two slightly glossy white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 14 to 18 days. The chicks are fed with nutrient-rich crop milk and fledge 15 to 19 days after hatching. They reach sexual maturity at one year of age.
Collared doves feed on seeds, buds, grain, fruits, berries insects and other invertebrates.
Collared doves can be seen all over the UK particularly in towns and villages and are regular visitors to gardens.
Collared doves only started breeding in the UK in the 1950s having arrived from Asia. They are now so widespread that they are one of the top ten most visited birds to British gardens.
