Stock Dove question

[Wild-Woman]

I saw a lone Stock Dove yesterday. Lovely bird, in amongst Collared Doves.
My question is simple. Why don't we see them in the same densities as Collared Doves, Wood Pigeon and Feral Pigeons? I understand that they are a bird that are more common in certain areas in Britain but they seem sparse here in the SE and they don't appear that much removed from their relatives, but obviously there's something about them.

[snake]

Hi Wild-Woman,

There are plenty of Stock Doves here on Sheppey, its not unusual to see 400-500 birds in one flock.
At this time of the year a good place to see them is when they are feeding on the cover strips put out for Pheasant shooting especially those which have a lot of maize grown in them.
There is a lot of maize cover grown at Harty and once the shooting season has finished they will be mown down and all the remaining cobs will be smashed up and scattered over the ground.
These areas will quickly be covered in thousands of pigeons and stock doves at this time.
Worth a look.



Stock Doves feeding on maize strip.

[Wild-Woman]

Crumbs.Never seen that amount. Most I've ever seen in one go was at Sevenoaks where there were around a dozen in a field. But for every Stock Dove, there's probably loads more wood pigeons? Why don't they investigate gardens like WP and CD's?

[FUDGEY]

Im just guessing here, but I think they are a lot less commom than their cousins due to the nest sites they choose. As they mostly nest in holes in trees Id say that there wont be an abundance of sites they can use and in turn will be limited in the numbers they can get to.

[Deb London]

The number of Collared Doves has dropped in my area (seemingly). Stock Doves seem more common than these. Since they are shy and seem to need some kind of wooded area for breeding, I wonder if these two factors play a role in your observations Jules?

"Ewwwooooo ewwwoooo ewwwoooo" in the deepest tone imaginable. That's how I might describe their call. One of the first calls I learnt since becoming more interested in birds a couple of years back. I will more often hear them than see them.

[Tursiops2]

No shortage round here (Felixstowe peninsula) either, I frequently see flocks of 500+.

T2

[Jason Green]

I'd love to know the general area you see them around, Debs! I've only ever had a fleeting-glimpse of a juvenile in my local park. Never before, and despite much searching none since either. Collared's-a-plenty.

Fabulous birds, in my opinion.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

I'd love to know the general area you see them around, Debs!

It's over 40 years since I last looked, but IIRC there used to be good numbers in Bushy and Richmond Parks

T2

[Jason Green]

Thanks, T2.

[ChrisJB]

Whilst there aren't the numbers of stock doves as compared to the others, I find they are more common than many people realise. I think they are just a very unobtrusive and quiet species that don't draw attention to themselves.

Chris