The Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is a pale, chunky bird species that has rapidly expanded its presence across continents. Originally native to Asia, it has successfully colonized much of Europe and North America. It thrives particularly well in suburban and urban environments where human activity provides consistent resources.
Staple Diet of Seeds and Grains
The primary caloric intake for the Eurasian Collared Dove comes from seeds and cereal grains. They are granivorous birds that show a strong preference for easily accessible, ground-level sources, especially in agricultural or residential areas. This diet consists of cultivated crops, often consumed as waste grain spilled in farmyards, around silos, or from backyard bird feeders.
Specific agricultural foods commonly eaten include corn, wheat, milo, and millet. Sunflower seeds are also a favored item, particularly when available at feeding platforms. Beyond these large cultivated grains, the doves also consume a variety of small, wild weed seeds found in open fields and on the edges of lawns.
Supplemental and Opportunistic Foods
While seeds form the bulk of their diet, Eurasian Collared Doves are flexible, opportunistic eaters that consume a range of other foods. They will consume fruits and berries, often selecting fallen or damaged items on the ground rather than fluttering among branches to reach them.
The doves also incorporate soft green vegetation and buds into their diet. They consume a small amount of animal protein, primarily during the breeding season when protein needs are higher. This protein includes small invertebrates such as insects and snails. In urban environments, they readily scavenge human scraps, such as bread crumbs.
Foraging Behavior and Feeding Methods
Eurasian Collared Doves are primarily ground foragers, obtaining most of their food by walking and pecking rather than scratching the soil. They tend to feed in open, visible locations, including lawns, cultivated fields, and areas beneath bird feeders where seeds have been spilled. When not breeding, they frequently forage in large flocks, with groups ranging from ten individuals to several hundred gathering at prime feeding sites.
The birds focus their feeding efforts during the early morning and late afternoon hours. They must ingest small pieces of grit, which aids the muscular gizzard in grinding up the hard seeds they swallow whole. They also require open access to water and use a distinct siphoning technique to drink, submerging their bill and sucking up the water.