European Turtle-dove Bird Facts (Streptopelia turtur)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The European Turtle-dove is a medium-sized dove with a distinctive appearance. Its back and wings are mottled brown with black edges, creating a scaly pattern.

The breast is pale pinkish-grey, and the neck features a patch of black and white stripes. Their eyes are red, with black pupils, and their legs are purplish.

Females are often paler and duller than males, although it is difficult to distinguish between the sexes on appearance alone. Juveniles have a duller plumage, lacking the neck patch. During the breeding season, adults develop a slightly more vibrant colouration.

Size

Length

26cm to 28cm

Wingspan

47cm to 53cm

Weight

100g to 170g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Red Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The European Turtle-dove can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The European Turtle-dove can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The European Turtle-dove is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

European Turtle-doves breed across much of Europe and western Asia, favouring open woodlands, forest edges, and farmland with hedgerows. They require a mosaic of habitats, including areas for nesting and feeding.

During winter, they migrate to sub-Saharan Africa. In the UK, they are summer visitors, mainly found in southern and eastern England, with some occurrences in Wales. Most arrive in April and depart by late August, so there is a brief window to see these migratory birds.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,300 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a European Turtle-dove. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Bahrain Bulgaria Denmark France Germany Greece Iran Iraq Italy Jordan Lebanon Mali Mauritania Morocco Oman Palestine Portugal Russia Saudi Arabia Spain Syria Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina China Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Egypt Estonia Finland Georgia Gibraltar Hungary Israel Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Moldova Mongolia Montenegro Netherlands Poland Romania Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Switzerland Tajikistan The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkmenistan Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Benin Burkina Faso Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Côte D'Ivoire Eritrea Ethiopia Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Niger Nigeria Senegal South Sudan Sudan Togo

Species that pass through the area during migration

Ireland Kuwait Malta Qatar Sweden Western Sahara Yemen

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Botswana Cape Verde Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Faroe Islands Gabon Iceland Kenya Liberia Maldives Namibia Norway Pakistan Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Uganda

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The European Turtle-dove exhibits high agility with its swift flight and rapid wingbeats. Their ability to perform steep climbs and graceful glides during courtship displays further demonstrates their nimbleness in the air.

Strength 40

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a medium-sized dove, the European Turtle-dove possesses moderate strength. While capable of long-distance migration, they are not known for particularly powerful physical attributes compared to larger bird species.

Adaptability 70

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These doves show good adaptability by thriving in various habitats, including woodlands, farmlands, and forest edges. Their ability to utilise different seed types in their diet also indicates flexibility. However, their vulnerability to habitat changes suggests some limitations in adaptation.

Aggressiveness 25

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

European Turtle-doves are generally peaceful birds, often seen foraging in pairs or small groups. They are not known for aggressive behaviour, preferring to avoid confrontation. Their gentle nature is reflected in their soft, purring call.

Endurance 80

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The European Turtle-dove demonstrates impressive endurance through its long-distance migration between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Their ability to fly at speeds up to 60 km/h during these journeys further attests to their stamina and resilience.

Diet

European Turtle-doves primarily feed on seeds from various plants, including cereals, weeds, and legumes. They have a particular preference for fumitory seeds. Other important seed plants are Setaria, Chickweed, Rapeseed, Vetch and White clover.

These doves forage mainly on the ground, often in agricultural fields or at the edges of woodlands. They also supplement their diet with small invertebrates like worms, insects, and snails.

Behaviour

European Turtle-doves are known for their graceful, swift flight with rapid wingbeats. They often forage on the ground in pairs or small groups, pecking for seeds.

During courtship, males perform a distinctive flight display, climbing steeply before gliding down with wings and tail spread.

Vocalisation

The European Turtle-dove's call is a soft, gentle purring sound, often described as 'turr-turr'. This distinctive vocalisation is typically heard during the breeding season and is primarily made by males. The call has a soothing quality and is lower-pitched compared to many other dove species.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding occurs from late April to August. Males attract females with their distinctive purring call and perform elaborate flight displays. Pairs form strong bonds during the breeding season and often pair for life.

Nests are flimsy platforms of twigs, typically placed in trees or large shrubs, often in hedgerows. Females usually lay two glossy white eggs per clutch.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 14 days. Chicks fledge after 18-21 days but remain dependent on their parents for another 1-2 weeks.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Vulnerable ^[1]

The European Turtle-dove is classified as Vulnerable due to rapid population declines. Habitat loss, changes in agricultural practices, and hunting during migration are major threats.

Conservation efforts focus on creating suitable breeding habitats and reducing hunting pressure along migration routes.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

12,800,000 - 47,600,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Turtle Dove

Family:

Columbidae

Average Lifespan

2 years

Max Lifespan

13.2 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include birds of prey such as sparrowhawks and goshawks, as well as domestic and feral cats.

Did You Know?

The turtle dove is featured in the famous Christmas carol 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'.
They can fly at speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph) during migration.
Turtle doves form strong pair bonds and often return to the same breeding sites each year.
In a pioneering study, researchers attached a satellite transmitter to a male specimen and tracked his migration to the West African country of Mali and back, an impressive journey of over 11,000 kilometres!

FAQs

Why are they called Turtle Doves?

Turtle Doves probably take their name for their coo-ing ‘turr-turr’ song that sounds like the word turtle. However, their common name could also be in reference to the tortoise-shell-like plumage on their wings.

Do Turtle Doves mourn?

Turtle Doves have been a symbol of love for centuries, and their habit of forming close bonds with their breeding partner may lead to speculation about their ability to mourn.

We don’t really know if these birds can mourn, although more romantic birdwatchers like to think they do.

How to attract Turtle Doves?

Turtle Doves are not common garden birds, although they may visit bird tables at properties near their preferred habitats.

However, farmers and land owners in their breeding range are encouraged to attract these birds by growing plots of cereals and other favoured food sources, limiting herbicide use, and maintaining suitable habitats like hedgerows, scrub, and shrubby woodland borders.

Are Turtle Doves a pest?

Turtle Doves are not a pest species. In fact, these birds are in rapid decline and need our active protection if they are to recover to healthy levels.

References

1 2
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Streptopelia turtur. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22690419A154373407.
View source
3
report: EBCC; RSPB; BirdLife; Statistics Netherlands
4
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source