The Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) exemplifies adaptability and expansion. Originally native to parts of Asia, this species has undergone a remarkable range expansion over the last century, making it a familiar sight across much of Europe, the Middle East, and North America. This dove’s ability to thrive in a wide range of habitats has facilitated its success in colonizing new areas, making its range one of the most expansive among dove species.

The Eurasian Collared Dove's journey began in the Indian subcontinent, from where it spread across to the Balkans in the early 20th century. Its colonization of Europe was rapid and widespread, occurring mainly during the latter half of the 20th century. By the 1950s and 1960s, the dove had established itself in the United Kingdom and many parts of Northern Europe.

The Eurasian Collared Dove's appearance in North America is a more recent phenomenon, first noted in the 1980s. It is believed that the species arrived in the Bahamas in the 1970s, possibly from accidental or deliberate releases. From there, it spread to Florida and subsequently across much of the United States and parts of Canada. Its proliferation across the continent has been swift, showcasing the bird’s remarkable ability to adapt to new environments.

One of the key factors behind the Eurasian Collared Dove's successful range expansion is its versatility in habitat preference. This species can thrive in a variety of settings, from rural farmlands and open country to suburban and urban areas. It is often found around human habitation, taking advantage of feeding opportunities in gardens, parks, and yards. This adaptability has been crucial in allowing the dove to integrate into existing ecosystems without the need for specialized habitat requirements.

Today, the Eurasian Collared Dove's range covers a vast area, including:

• Much of Europe, extending into Scandinavia and eastward into Russia.
• The Middle East, encompassing countries such as Turkey and Iran.
• Parts of Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent where it is native.
• A significant portion of North America, from the southern regions of Canada through the United States and into Mexico.

Despite its widespread presence, the Eurasian Collared Dove continues to expand its range, especially in North America, where its population numbers are still growing. Its success story highlights the impact of species adaptability on range expansion, as well as the unintended consequences of human activities on wildlife distribution.

The Eurasian Collared Dove serves as an interesting case study in rapid range expansion and adaptability. Its presence across diverse geographical locations underscores the dynamic nature of avian distribution patterns and the continuous evolution of ecosystems under the influence of both natural and anthropogenic factors.

We've added three new parrots from South America, namely the Blue-crowned Conure, Nanday Conure and Patagonian Conure. These three new Birdorable birds were requested by several customers. Conures are either large parakeets or small parrots that live in Central and South America (the extinct Carolina Parakeet was an exception). Conures are often called the clowns of the parrot world due to their constant attention seeking behavior including hanging upside-down and swaying back and forth.

Today we've added the one hundredth bird species to Birdorable.com: The California Condor. For all 100 species see Meet the Birds.

The California Condor, a type of vulture, has the largest wingspan of any bird found in North America. The bird today is considered critically endangered. In 1987 the last wild California Condor was captured to become part of one of the most expensive conservation projects ever. At that time there were only 22 individuals! In early 2008 this number had increased to over 300 birds, with over 150 in two wild populations. 

To see all our designs see the California Condor page. Here's a photo of a Birdorable Condor perched on a branch overlooking the Grand Canyon:

Today is Pi Day. Not the sweet and delicious kind, but π as in the mathematical number "3.1415926...", hence it is celebrated on March 14th, or 3/14 on the American calendar. The first Pi Day was held at the San Francisco Exploratorium in 1988 with people marching around in circles and eating fruit pies. It is a fun holiday for mathematicians and it also happens to be Albert Einstein's birthday. Here are two Birdorable Pi designs for this occasion:

The Common Kestrel is native to parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. They hunt by hovering 10 to 20 meters over the ground in search of prey. These small birds of prey are often seen hovering by highways, looking for mice, voles and other small rodents. This is our totally cute version of the Common Kestrel and our 99th Birdorable species:

The Eurasian Nuthatch is the 98th cute bird that we're adding to Birdorable. You can find all the others on the Meet the Birds page. Just two more and we'll hit number one hundred, which will be a special bird. The Eurasian Nuthatch is a cute little Nuthatch that lives throughout Europe and Asia. It is a common backyard bird in some parts of Europe where it feeds on seeds and nuts. It has the ability, like other nuthatches, to climb down trees, unlike species such as woodpeckers which can only go upwards. This is our totally cute Birdorable version of the European Nuthatch: