Common name: Eurasian Collared-dove
Scientific name: Streptopelia decaocto
Family: Columbidae

Size:
Body length: 30–32 cm
Weight: approximately 112–260 g

Identification:
A medium-sized, slender dove with a relatively long tail and predominantly pale grey-buff plumage. Adults are easily recognized by the distinctive black half-collar on the back and sides of the neck. The wings are plain sandy-brown, while the tail shows a broad white terminal area that is conspicuous in flight. Juveniles are duller and lack the black neck collar.

Habitat:
Highly associated with human-modified landscapes, including cities, towns, parks, gardens, farms and cultivated areas. It also occurs in open woodland and vegetated wadis with trees and shrubs.

Status in the UAE:
An abundant and widespread resident breeding species in the UAE. It was rarely recorded in the country before 1977 but subsequently expanded dramatically and is now one of the UAE's common resident birds. The population has been estimated at approximately 200,000–2,000,000 individuals.

Diet:
Feeds mainly on seeds, grains, grasses and other plant material, usually collected from the ground. It also takes occasional small invertebrates and readily feeds on human food scraps in urban environments.

Behavior:
A diurnal and adaptable species frequently seen alone, in pairs or in groups. Outside the breeding season it can be highly social and form large flocks. Breeding pairs are territorial and monogamous, and both parents participate in incubation and caring for the young.

Conservation Status:
Global: Least Concern (LC)
UAE National Red List: Least Concern (LC)