Chances are, if you are reading this in the British Isles, you are within a mile or less of a collared dove. Yet, just 40 years ago, the closest individual would have been no nearer than France, Holland or Denmark. Until 1953, the species had never even been seen in Britain.

Physical description
These are small doves of about 28cm with pale pinkish or grey-brown feathers. They have a black half-collar, black primary feathers and a long, white-edged tail.

Distribution
Collared doves range across Europe (but have only recently reached Spain and Portugal) and are found in India, Sri Lanka and Burma.

Habitat
They inhabit towns, villages and farmland.

Diet
Collared doves mainly feed on seeds but they will also take berries and other plant material.

Behaviour
Males make showy display flights, rising up into the air, clapping their wings, and then gliding down with their wings and tail spread out.

Reproduction
Collared doves usually nest in trees, but will sometimes nest on buildings. The two eggs are incubated by both adults for about two weeks, and the chicks fledge after three weeks. The chicks are largely fed on crop milk for the first part of this period.

Conservation status
Collared doves are not considered to be globally threatened. Originally an inhabitant of Asia, this dove has spread over much of Europe since the 1890s. They reached Britain in 1953 and there are now over 200,000 pairs.

Voice
The call is a monotonous coo-COO-cUK.