The other picture wouldn't post in my top post. Here's a close-up.

Nice pictures but they look like Mourning Doves to me. See All About Birds similar species.

Claire

Thanks claire! You're right! By those pictures they do look like Mourning Doves. But I am almost positive the ones in my yard are the collared doves. But I will look more closely tomorrow. Maybe I have both!

I have three types of doves at my feeders. Mourning, White Wing and Collared. While the black ring or stripe around the neck is obvious, I find the collared species to be quite a bit larger than the other two species. Additionally, they tend to be bigger "bullies" and frequently drive other doves and bird species away from the feeders, so much so that occasionally I just let the feeders go empty for a week or so to discourage their visits. In my case at least, the native Mourning Doves seem to be the smallest and most timid of visiting species and are easily scared off by even the slightest disturbance or bullying by other birds.

As I live in the city, there's not much I can do about getting rid of the Collared ruffians but if I lived outside the city limits, they would be supper on a regular basis since they're not a protected species.

Hmmm....I just always assumed mine were mourning doves. I'll have to figure it out if I have different ones.

Aww, Claire, that dove looks so cold! I just want to give it a tiny blanket.

Here in Central Fl., I thought I only have mourning doves, now I'll look more closely.

they're quite well behaved and usually eat around the smaller birds and even seem to prefer eating off the ground. I never hear them but I enjoy viewing them.

Hey Claire.....I'm thinking the fastest way to I.D. the Eurasian is that black line on the back of the neck?

catherinet: I've never seen a Collared-Dove so I can't really say firsthand how to ID them.

Cornell's All About Birds has a good site with "The Four Keys to ID" Eurasian Collared-Dove identification.

TXSkeeter's post gives some good tips.

Claire

Cute photos, popmama. But they sure look as if they are cold!

We have both the collared doves and mourning doves where I currently live in SoCal. The neck mark is a good id point for the collared, as is the lack of wing spots that is seen on the mourning dove. They are noticeably larger, as noted in a previous post. (Escaped ringed turtle doves also have that type of neck mark, but they are established in only a few, very limited areas, tending to not to thrive in the wild. The Eurasian collared dove is widespread.)

Another way to tell them apart is by their call. You can listen to it at the Cornell link claireplymouth provided, and compare to the mourning dove's.

I just wanted to come back to give you all an update. I saw the pair of doves again today in my yard trying to weather the major snow storm we were having. I was able to get my binoculars on them at all angles and you were all right. These are mourning doves! I know I also have the Eurasian collared doves so I guess I do have both! That's really exciting. The Audubon society here said that the Eurasian collared doves had basically driven out the mourning doves. But, not true! So there you have it! :-)

The reference to "turtle doves" was just a reference to the old Christmas carol. Sorry for any confusion there.