Ringneck
Dove History
Streptopelia risoria
by John Pire
The "RINGNECK DOVE" is commonly kept by dove fanciers around the
world. The "ringneck dove" was first described in 1758. It is also
known as the Barbary Dove, Java or Sacred White Dove (white color phase) and
Laughing Dove. In the circle of dove/pigeon fanciers when the term "ringneck"
is used, most know which specie is being referred to.
I believe the "Ringneck" is the long domesticated form, some 2000-3000 years,
of the African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea *). The original ancestor
is unknown. Most books and articles
which deal with wild dove/pigeon species give the "ringneck" specific status under
the name "risoria" in the genus "Streptopelia". Thus it is
listed as: Streptopelia risoria.
In the days of pigeon/dove expert C.O. Whitman
(1832-1910) the "Blond Ringneck" and
"White
Ringneck" were thought to be two different species/races of dove.
They were even given separate Latin names; the
"blond" was Steptopelia risoria and the "white" was
Streptopelia alba.
The Posthumous Works
of C. O. Whitman.
C.O. Whitman did extensive research in the columbidae family; including
studying a breeding population of Passenger Pigeons in captivity. The last living
Passenger Pigeon "Martha" originated from a flock of C.O. Whitman's
birds.
In Derek Goodwin's book; Pigeon & Doves of the World, 3rd
Printing 1983; he states in his description of the specie: "wing & tail
proportions usually as in parental form but often with proportionately longer
tail. It is possible, but unlikely, that this may be due to past hybridization
of domestic stock with Streptopelia decaocto". Further on in his
description he states: " In recent years back-crossing to imported wild
Streptopelia roseogrisea has resulted in
"Barbary Doves" of the wild color being available. (Burger, R.E. &
Hollander, W.F. 1971).
The "ringneck" was only known in the fawn and white colors up
until the introduction of the African Collared Dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea). Once the African Collared Dove's
wild coloration was introduced into the "domestic ringneck" many new color mutations began to appear. There are 40 plus known color mutations or
patterns in the Ringneck Dove which are now know or accepted by the Dove
Associations.
*(S. roseogrisea
is the African Collared Dove).
Personal thoughts from the author (J
Pire) on the acceptance of which species was imported into the US and bred to
the domestic Ringneck Dove.
Being interested in the Exotic species
of doves/pigeons for many years I came to know many of the old time dove
fanciers around the US. The story about the importation of the doves which were assumed to be Streptopelia decaocto and
used to breed to the ringneck is told as the following. The big fanciers, J W Steinbeck,
Sebastiani, Guy Hughes and others were always getting new birds from different sources. One
importation included African Collared Doves (Streptopelia roseogriesea). Two of
the three races were included in this shipment. The birds were brought in as RED-EYED
DOVES. This name was listed on the shipment papers so that they could be
exported form the place of origin. Here is the kicker - this name only applies or is used to describe a
single "ring-necked" specie - the Red-eyed or Half-collared Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata).
The Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is not known by this
name anywhere.
There can be no confusion between the
two species, S decaocto and S.
semitorquata, they are totally different looking from each
other (SPECIE COMPARISON). Size is
also quite different, with the Half-collared/Red-eyed Dove being the largest of
all the "ring-necked species". The S. decaocto also has a unique voice
and calls; "spikes" on the underside of the tail; these two facets are
not found in any other ring-necked dove
species. Click the link for a pic of
tail
spikes unique to S. decaocto.
Hybrids between the S. risoria and S
decaocto show altered tail spikes. The major facet of the hybrids is their voices;
the voices of the different parents are combined in the hybrids and is really screwed
up in the hybrids. Hybrids of 3/4 and 7/8 back to S. decaocto can
still have signs of the parent ringneck in their voices.
Another interesting fact is the
"scream" of S. decaocto, whether it be male or female. This scream
makes one take notice when it is heard. Both birds "scream" at the
completion of the mating act. Males & Females
"scream" when defending their territory, chasing other birds,
alighting on top of a utility pole, etc. Even the hybrids with "risoria"
screamed for the same reasons as pure ECD.
Males have a three syllable coo compared to the male S. risoria' s two syllable coo.
Females also have this three syllable coo. (Visit the
Calls
page for the voices)
Having this interest in the different
wild ring-necked species for over 25 years, combined with these points and
many more I have
observed of the differences
between the two species (decaocto & risoria) leads me to believe the specie S. rosegriesea as
the bird bred to the common Ringneck in the 1950's and 1960's. It was the specie
imported.
I used personal experiences with the S. decaocto to make the conclusion I reached. I
personally do not think these unique features of S. decaocto could be overlooked
- on a new species
being introduced into the fancy for the first time. The
common ringneck (S. risoria) was only known in two colors (blond and white);
this new specie was a different color, was much larger, had a different voice, had a unique
undertail pattern and does not do well in small confinement. Hard facts to
not notice or describe.
risoria
& decaocto comparisons
Excerpt: British Birds,
number 5, Vol. XLVI, May 1953; James Fisher -author. COLLARED TURTLE DOVE IN
EUROPE
The Barbary Dove
This small, pale form of a Streptopelia
species appears to exist only in domesticity. It was first described by
Linnaeus in 1756 as Columba risoria. It is often known as the
"Collared Dove" and its superficial similarity to S. decaocto in the
field has led to confusion, though the distinguishing characteristics are clear
(apart from voice, size and colour, the distribution of black on the rectrices
is quite different, and the blackish primaries of S. decaocto are diagnostic and
a good field-character). The origin of Streptopelia risoria is not
certain. Authorities such as I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire* (1860, 1861,
quoted Oustalet) and Oustalet (1901) -- favoring decaocto and others like
Shelley (1883) and Hartert (1916) roseogrisea; but is probably derived
from S. roseogrisea, brought across to Italy and other countries of Europe from
the Sudan via Egypt as a domestic house-bird in the second half of the sixteenth
century (see e.g. U. Aldrovandi, 1599; Adametz and Stresemann, 1948),
Schwenckfeld (1603) records it as imported to Silesia at 2 guilders a pair. In
Italy particularly, but also in other parts of Europe including south England,
Barbary Doves have established themselves in gardens and parks in a
semi-domestic, semi-wild state. A. E. Brehm, the Italian edition (1898) of whose
Leben der Vogel (first published in 1861) is quoted by E. Moltoni
(1950b), writes of a great number at liberty in the gardens of the Castle of
Miramar, near Trieste; and F. Arnold (1897) mentions some "lachtauben"
on the islands in Lago Maggiore which from his description are clearly Barbaries.
Already by 1792 or 1793 semi-albino S. risoria has been introduced by the Dutch
into Bouton Isle in the Tonga group. Pacific Ocean (Oustalet 1901) which led to
the belief, entertained for some time, that the species originated in the
Pacific.
Taka-Tsukasa and Hachisuka (1925) record that albino risoria
were introduced by the Chinese into the Pescadores Islands, off the western
coast of Formosa and have become quite common in the feral state, no coloured
forms occurring.
*I. Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire
thought that the turtle doves kept as a table bird by ancient Romans was S.
risoria and that it was therefore most likely to be of Asiatic (thus
decaocto) origin. But the Romans' birds did not breed in captivity and were most
likely ordinary Turtle Doves (S. turtur).
(J.Pire 10/2000)
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