Streptopelia decaocto | UAE National Red List of Birds

Taxa
Streptopelia decaocto | Frivaldszky, 1838
Location
Countries in Assessment
United Arab Emirates
Country ISO code(s)
ARE
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Off
Scope (Assessment)
National
Taxon
Taxonomic Group
Vertebrates
Taxonomic Group Level 2
Birds
Assessed taxon level
Species
Taxonomic Notes
Streptopelia decaocto;and;S. xanthocycla;(del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as;S. decaocto;following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993).
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
This species is locally abundant, particularly in northern and north-eastern UAE (Pedersen et al. 2017). During the 20<sup>th </sup>century, the species underwent a tremendous natural expansion of its range, spreading from Eurasia into the Middle East and Africa (Jennings 2010). While prior to the 1960s, it only occurred in small numbers in a few locations along the northern coast of the UAE and on Das Island, during the 1970s it spread southward through Sharjah Emirate to Abu Dhabi City and during the 1980s to Al Ain (Abu Dhabi Emirate), possibly supported by deliberate releases (Jennings 2010, Pedersen et al. 2017). By now, it occurs throughout the entire country, including near Liwa in southern Abu Dhabi Emirate (Jennings 2010).
Habitats and Ecology
Ecological system type
Terrestrial system
No
Freshwater system
No
Marine system
No
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
This species is closely associated to humans. It occurs on farmland as well as in gardens and parks in villages or towns (Jennings 2010, Aspinall and Porter 2011). Its recent range expansion in Arabia was likely facilitated by the spread of agriculture and irrigation into previously arid areas (Jennings 2010). It mainly feeds on the ground, taking seeds and cereal grain, but also human food waste like bread crumbs or rice, and may also take invertebrates (Jennings 2010). It roosts communally in large flocks of up to 1,000 individuals, often together with Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis, Common Myna Acridotheres tristis, House Crow Corvus splendens and House Sparrow Passer domesticus (Jennings 2010). It breeds throughout the entire year, with the peak activity recorded in March to May. The nest is made of twigs, rootlets and grass, and is placed in a bush or tree, but occasionally also in reeds, rock crevices and abandoned kestrel nests, or in human structures like on window ledges, towers, old vehicles and heaps of barbed wire (Jennings 2010). Hybridisation with other doves has been suggested, but not conclusively proven (Jennings 2010). Though generally resident, some seasonal movements have been recorded (Jennings 2010).
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Assessed status
Asessment status in full
Least Concern
Assessment status abreviation
LC
Assessment rationale/justification
The resident population in the UAE is very large and increasing. The species is therefore evaluated as Least Concern at the national level.
About the assessment
Assessment year
2019
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Affliation of assessor(s)/contributors/reviewers listed on assessment
Government
IGO
Assessor affiliation specific
Government|IGO
Criteria system
Criteria system specifics
IUCN v3.1 + Regional Guidelines v4.0
Criteria system used
IUCN
Criteria Citation
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Endemism
Endemic to region
Not_assigned
Endemism Notes
Is an endemic?: Not_assigned
Conservation
Threats listed in assessment
The species is increasing rapidly, and so any potential threats are deemed insignificant at this time.
Conservation Measures

Conservation measures:
Conservation measures notes:
Required conservation measures:

Further information
History
It is assessed that in 1996, the national Red List status of this species would have been the same as in this assessment.
Scientific Name Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Streptopelia decaocto Animalia Chordata Aves Columbiformes Columbidae Streptopelia