Alaska is home to many types of birds, including doves. Doves are known for being pretty and calm, making a soft cooing sound.
Doves are a kind of bird that can be found worldwide, including in Alaska. In this state 6 types of doves you might see in Alaska are the band-tailed pigeon and mourning dove.
In this blog, we will learn about the different types of doves in Alaska, where they live, how they behave, and what makes them unique.
Are there doves in Alaska?
Yes, doves are cool birds that are easy to spot in Alaska. Some doves include
- Rock Dove
- Band-tailed Pigeon
- Oriental Turtle-dove
- Eurasian Collared-dove
- White-winged dove
- Mourning Dove
Let’s learn these 6 types of doves’ diets, habitats, where they are found, and how they behave.
1. Rock Dove
Rock Pigeons are highly common doves in Arizona. This dove is large that’s why everyone called them a “Pigeon“.
They are gathering in huge flocks like a mourning dove. Rock Pigeons were introduced by European Settlers in the Early 17th Century.
The Rock Doves feed on corn, seeds, wheat, and scraps of food that are discarded by humans.
Rock Doves have a good relationship with humans. You can easily attract these birds with offers of sunflower seeds, other seeds, and corn, and provide them with dense trees for nesting, so they spend more time in your backyard.
Related: Discover 5 Doves in Alabama
2. Band-tailed Pigeon
When you think of birds in Alaska, you might picture bald eagles or puffins. But did you know that there are also doves living in Alaska, including the band-tailed pigeon?
The Band-tailed pigeon is the big type of dove rarely found in Alaska. They have grey-blue on their wings and back, with a lighter belly. They live in the forests of Alaska and eat seeds, berries, and nuts.
They are important species to the environment of Alaska because they help spread seeds, also they are food for animals like hawks and eagles.
They make a sound like “whoo-ah” and are often seen in groups. We need to take care of them and their habitat.
Related: Doves in Michigan
3. Oriental Turtle-dove
The Oriental Turtle-dove is a bird species that is typically found in Asia, ranging from Japan to India. It is not commonly found in Alaska, as it is outside of its typical range.
This is an accidental or intentional dove in Alaska means they are accidental releases by humans.
The Oriental Turtle-Dove always prefers warm and humid areas with a mix of forest and open spaces.
This species of doves is also kept as domesticated birds and pets. It is not recommended to release them into the wild, as they may not be able to survive in their new environment.
Related: Doves in Colorado
4. Eurasian Collared-Dove
The Eurasian collared dove is not a native bird of North America. It was introduced into the Bahamas in the 1970s after the 1980s it spread throughout North America.Â
Eurasian collared doves love to stay in bare ground, telephone wires, and trees like the Mourning Dove. They make nests on trees with small straws and other small things.Â
These common doves in Alaska are very difficult to identify because they are very similar to the Mourning Dove except for the black half-collar on the neck.
If you see this bird from behind, you can’t identify this bird whether it is Eurasian Collared-Dove or it’s a Mourning Dove.
They have a black half-collar on the neck that’s why they are very difficult to identify.
Related: Doves in Hawaii
5. White-winged dove
White-winged Dove is a medium-sized dove found in Alaska. They have pale brown bodies with a white stripe along their wings.
White-winged Doves have brown overall. They have a white long stripe on their wings, it looks more clear when they are flying.
They have blue skin around their eyes. One interesting thing about these birds is they have red eyes.
White-winged Doves forage on grain and seeds on the ground. Their calls sound like “whoo-OOO-oo, 000-00“.
Their main habitat includes riverwoods, groves, farmland, suburbs, and trees in grassland.Â
White-winged Doves love to eat seeds, agave, ocotillo, fruit, etc.
6. Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove is commonly seen in telephone wires, and trees, and sometimes forage for seeds on the ground. This dove has a slender tail, a small head, black eyes, and a black small beak.Â
Mourning Dove can grow up to 9-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 15-18 inches. Mourning Doves are common species of Doves in Arizona.
Mourning Doves eat corn, millet, buckwheat, Rye, pine nuts, foxtail, peanuts, canary grass, wheat, sunflower seeds, rapeseed, etc. In winter, they mostly eat foxtail millet and corn.
This dove has a long tail, short legs, overall greyish-brown color body, with black spots on the wings.
Mourning Doves always prefer bare ground, telephone wires, and trees. They make nests on trees with small straws.Â
People Also Ask:
You can find all the questions answered regarding “Doves in Alaska” that people ask on Google. Here are the questions and answers:
Are Mourning Doves in Alaska?
Mourning doves are not usually found in Alaska. They live in the lower 48 states of the United States and parts of Mexico. While they may occasionally wander outside their usual range, Alaska’s climate and habitat are not suitable for them. Other bird species are better adapted to live in Alaska.
How did Rock Doves Get to Alaska?
People brought pigeons to Alaska for different reasons like having them as pets, racing, or using them as messenger birds. Pigeons are not originally from Alaska and did not get there on their own.
Are There Pigeons in Alaska?
Yes, there are pigeons in Alaska, but they are not native to the region. Pigeons are a domesticated species that have been introduced to various parts of the world by humans. In Alaska, pigeons are found mainly in urban areas where they have been brought by people.
Conclusion:
In Conclusion, doves are common in many places, but the chance of seeing an Oriental turtle dove in Alaska is slim since it’s not usually found there. However, the Eurasian collared dove has successfully spread to North America and can be seen in Alaska. So, keep an eye out for these adaptable birds and enjoy their unique cooing sounds in unexpected locations.
Source: Wikipedia, Alaska Gov,
