March of the "ECD's"

The Eurasian Collared-Dove is a fairly recent invader into the state of Georgia, and indeed is not even included in the 1986 revision of the Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds, although Ringed Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia risoria), a common cage bird closely resembling the Eurasian Collared-Dove, is listed in the Provisional section of the checklist.  Appearing in south Florida as recently as the late 1970's (possibly as invaders from the Bahamas), the "ECD", as they are commonly referred to, have begun an unprecedented march across the southern and mid-western US, just as they did earlier in the twentieth century in Europe.

Here in Georgia, the first document ECD sighting is somewhat of a mystery, but the first report of this species on the state's Christmas Bird Counts was in January 1994 on the Callaway Gardens count.  The following count year, the Glynn Co. circle reported 31 birds.  Since that time, they have quickly colonized the the areas of the state below the Fall Line, and have (more slowly) begun to colonize the Piedmont and the Ridge and Valley counties.

To date, this species has been reported in 151 of Georgia's 159 counties.  The map above shows which counties (gray shading) that have ECD records.  Some of the sightings in counties above the Fall Line are perhaps "scouts," or just strays, but there are many known colonies in cities such as Rome (Floyd Co.) and Athens (Clarke Co.). (Note:  Click here to view a map of Georgia that includes the county names.  The map will appear in a new browser window.)