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| Eurasian Collared Dove |
A bird that’s rapidly becoming at home in north Texas is the
Eurasian Collared Dove. Prior to the mid
‘80s, it wasn’t even in most field guides. But after it was introduced to the
Bahamas in the ‘70s, it quickly spread out and is now one of the most
frequently-seen birds in the southeast, and is expanding its range westward. It was first reported in the U.S. in 1982 - just north of Miami. Interestingly, there is actually an increase in the native dove populations when this non-native dove takes up residence. In north Texas, that includes the Mourning Doves.
A Mocker’s diet About half the diet of a Northern Mockingbird (our
state bird!) is fruits and berries.
The other half is insects (including
insect-flavored suet, sometimes). The Mockingbird won’t ever eat at a
seed feeder, although it may hang around the same area. As a practicing Landscape Architect in Texas, I’ve seen that they’re partial
to native hollies, beautyberry, agarita, soapberry and Mexican plum.
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