Birds of North Carolina
their Distribution and Abundance
Scientific Name:
Common Name:
 Family (Alpha):
COLUMBIDAE Members:
General Comments
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is the latest of the relatively few species (along with Rock Pigeon, European Starling, House Finch, and House Sparrow) that have been introduced into eastern North America that have spread into North Carolina and become established here as a breeding bird. This Eurasian species escaped from an aviary in the Bahamas in the 1970's and quickly spread to neighboring Florida (thus, not directly released in the United States). It has fairly rapidly spread northward and northwestward, and the first record for North Carolina came in 1994 on the Outer Banks at Salvo. By 2000, a few breeding populations were established in scattered south coastal towns, and there were widely scattered reports farther inland. However, even by 2025, the range is still mostly along the southern coast and nearby mainland, and in the southwestern part of the Piedmont and southern Coastal Plain near the South Carolina border. There are very few established nesting populations yet in the Piedmont or mountains, nor along the northern coast. Why it has yet to colonize urban and suburban areas in the northern Piedmont -- such as Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem -- is hard to understand. The species occupies habitats utilized by both the Rock Pigeon and the Mourning Dove, in that it is found in towns and residential areas, mostly open with only scattered trees, preferably near the coast (so far). It is not normally found in agricultural areas (unlike the Mourning Dove), nor is it seen in areas away from man. It is commonly seen on telephone wires and other high perches, typically in yards or along streets.
Breeding Status
Breeder; Introduced
NC BRC List
The species' status on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina: either Definitive, Provisional, or Extinct, as administered by the NC Bird Records Committee. The Provisional List contains species for which there are less than three accepted sight (i.e., non-documented) records. Species of unaccepted origin are not included on the List of Bird Species of North Carolina.
Definitive
State Status
none
U.S. Status
Definitive
State Rank
SE
Global Rank
G5
Coastal Plain
Breeding, permanent resident; nonmigratory though possibly nomadic; increasing. Locally uncommon to fairly common along and close to the coast from Carteret southward; common in a few places (all in Carteret), such as Harkers Island, Atlantic Beach, Beaufort, and Morehead City. Very rare to rare farther northward near and along the coast (such as at Nags Head and Kitty Hawk). Farther inland (including Tidewater), rare and local in small to large towns, mostly north to Smithfield and Goldsboro and west to Hoffman (Richmond), but seemingly absent from many counties, especially northward. Two seen at Pocosin Lakes NWR (Washington) on 22 Dec 2023 seems like a one-time only report. Peak counts: 233, Morehead City CBC, 18 Dec 2016; 152, Ocracoke Island CBC, 31 Dec 2015; 90+, Atlantic Beach, 31 Oct 2015; 60, Morehead City CBC, 14 Dec 2008; 38, Ocracoke Island CBC, 31 Dec 2010; 28, Nags Head (Dare), 23 Nov 2010; 20, Goldsboro, fall and early winter 2000.
Piedmont
Breeding permanent resident, but mainly in the southern and western Piedmont. Surprisingly scarce in the province, considering its abundance in many states farther to the west and northwest of North Carolina. Absent to very rare in most areas (such as in the northeastern Piedmont), but locally uncommon in a few southwestern counties, particularly in Cleveland. First record apparently in 1999. Few records (as of 2023) in some major birding areas, such as Raleigh and Durham. One photographed in Franklin on 11 May 2025 was north of the known breeding range, as presumably were two in Surry on 22 May 2025. The expected boom in numbers and range simply has not happened in the last 10 years. Peak counts: 30-40, Marshville (Union), 23 Dec 2008; 6, summer-fall 2000, Conover.
Mountain
Scarce and poorly documented breeding permanent resident in low elevations. Relatively few records, all since 1997 -- mostly in Henderson, Transylvania, Buncombe, and Haywood. Seldom reported in the northern counties, with one seen in Watauga on 31 Mar 2024 being notable. Peak count: 5, Henderson, 7 Jan 2006.
Finding Tips
***
Not hard to find by driving around side streets of Morehead City, Beaufort, and Harkers Island -- all in Carteret. The Carolina Beach and Kure Beach areas of southern coastal New Hanover can also be good for finding them.