News

A New Bird in Town

November 29, 2009
A New Bird in Town

Eurasian Collared-dove in Norwich, VT. Photographed by John Dunn

Vermont's first confirmed Eurasian Collared-Dove has provided a rare, unexpected sight for birders from all over the region since its presence was made "public" on November 25.  The bird has been a reliable visitor since mid-month at the feeders of Norwich residents John and Dianne Dunn, who quickly realized that the large, pale dove chasing their resident Mourning Doves was out of the ordinary.  Their initial ID was right on target, and they called VCE to inform us about the first-state record.  A couple of listserv messages later, and birders have been congregating in the Dunn's back yard. 

Few have been disappointed so far, as the bird rarely fails to appear, especially during morning or early afternoon hours.  The Dunns, who live at 1460 Union Village Road, are extremely welcoming and accommodating to birders seeking to add Eurasian Collared-Dove to their life lists.  All visitors should, of course, respect the Dunns' privacy.

While a definite surprise in central Vermont during late November, the Eurasian Collared-Dove was bound to make an appearance sooner or later.  Introduced into the Bahamas in the mid-1970s, probably as a released cage bird, the species has spread very rapidly and is now established throughout the southeastern United States.  A smattering of records exist across the country as far west as California, and north to British Columbia and Saskatchewan.  The closest previous occurrences of this species to Vermont were of birds in Massachusetts and New York.  The spread of Eurasian Collared-Doves across North America is still an evolving situation -- the full expansion its final range and the impacts it may have on other bird species remain to be seen.