Streptopelia decaocto

An unimpressive shot for an equally unimpressive bird!

Well...that's not really true. The Eurasian Collared-Dove is a very impressive bird, having colonized the whole of the United States in perhaps 15 years. Their original introduction (likely from the release of captive birds) occurred at two times, during the 1970's and 80's, but around the year 2000 they took off like gangbusters, spreading phenomenally farther (from centers in Florida and southern California) every year. This species was nowhere to be found here in northern California 10 years ago. Now they dominate, pushing out less aggressive birds like the native Mourning Dove. That's what I find unimpressive: their no-holds-barred domination of the dovescape.