European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur

European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur

Turtle Dove, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, England, June 2007 - click for larger image

England and Morocco.

The European Turtle-dove breeds in Europe with the exception of most of Scandinavia and the north and west of the British Isles as well as in Asia across to north-central China and south to the Middle East and north Africa.

It is migratory and spends the northern winter in Africa in the grasslands just south of the Sahara. It arrives in its breeding grounds in May and departs for Africa in August and September. It is heavily hunted in some Mediterranean countries while it is on migration.

It breeds in deciduous woodlands where there is dense undergrowth and is found most often near agricultural areas.

Turtle Dove, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, England, August 2007 - click for larger image

It is strikingly marked with bright orangey-brown feathers with black centres on the scapulars and wing-coverts. The neck patch consists of black and white stripes and the orange eye is surrounded by red bare skin.

The juvenile, seen here in photo 4, is duller and lacks the neck patch.

Juvenile Turtle Dove, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, England, July 2007 - click for larger image

It feeds mainly on the ground on seeds and fruits.

Photo 6, taken in Morocco shows the sub-species S. t. arenicola which is slightly smaller and paler than the nominate.

The song is a series of low pitched purring coos.

Turtle Dove with Wood Pigeon, Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, England, July 2007 - click for larger image

Turtle Dove, Merzouga, Morocco, April 2014 - click for larger image

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