I believe this first dove is a candidate for a possible hybrid Eurasian Collared-Dove and Mourning Dove. I had previously seen the bird in with the large flocks of EUCD but it was always at a distance and the bird's tail was hidden. I had passed it off as just aberrant coloration, although I have never seen a ECDO this dark. When I saw it perched on the wire, 1-31-04, my mind went into a tailspin. Since that sighting, I have run across at least 3 other birds that show traits of hybrids. Please click on thumbnails to see enlarged images and my comments.
This is a Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) color mutation and would be a
wonderful addition to our Domestic Ringneck Dove (Streptopelia risoria) color array.
Any possibility of relocating it and possibly capture it? Eurasian Collared Doves and
Domestic Ringneck Doves are fully fertile when mated together while hybrids of Mourning
Doves and Eurasian Collared Doves are all sterile.
