Wild Birds

Collared Dove Welfare and Rapid Range Expansion

The collared dove colonised Britain from the 1950s onwards in one of the most remarkable natural range expansions in ornithological history, but its welfare now depends on garden food provision and urban greenspace quality.

Key Facts

Collared doves reached the UK only in 1955 and now number over 800,000 breeding pairs
The expansion from Turkey to Britain took just 20 years, one of the fastest vertebrate range expansions recorded
They are closely associated with human habitation and feed largely on grain and seed near farms and gardens
Collared doves can breed year-round in mild weather, raising up to five or six broods annually
Their monotonous three-syllable coo is one of the most familiar garden sounds in Britain

Welfare Considerations

Collared dove welfare is generally secure in the UK due to abundant food provision near human settlement, but the species faces increasing predation pressure from sparrowhawks as hawk populations recover. Trichomonosis, a parasitic throat infection spread through contaminated bird feeders, has caused significant mortality since 2005. Unhygienic garden feeders are the primary welfare threat for this species in suburban settings.

What You Can Do

Clean bird feeders and tables regularly with a weak disinfectant solution to prevent trichomonosis
Use multiple smaller feeders rather than one large feeder to reduce disease transmission
Remove and discard any sick or lethargic doves found near feeders promptly
Provide fresh grain and seed rather than stale or mouldy food
Report sick doves to RSPB and Garden Wildlife Health for disease surveillance