Bird profile - Turtle Dove
Turtle Doves are Summer visitors to the UK, and are ecologically unique by being Europe’s only long distance migratory dove. They spend just a third of the year on their breeding grounds in Europe and the Winter on their non-breeding grounds in sub-Saharan West Africa. In Europe, they are mostly found on farmland where they nest in thick scrub and feed on bare ground, enjoying the seeds of wildflowers.
Very sadly, the UK population has declined by 98% since 1967. A loss of suitable and accessible seed food has been the most significant factor in driving the decline, combined with unsustainable levels of hunting during their migration to and from West Africa.
What Do Turtle Doves Look Like?
Turtle doves are slightly larger than a blackbird, but still smaller than other doves and pigeons.
They tend to be a pinkish grey in colour with black and white barring on the neck and a black tail with a white edge. They also have pink rings around their eyes and an intricate scalloped or checkerboard pattern on their wings.
Turtle Dove Facts
- The turtle dove is Britain’s only migratory pigeon or dove.
- The turtle dove arrives in the UK in late April and May, leaving again between July and September.
- The turtle dove's call sounds like a gentle cat purr.
- The turtle dove has been on the Red List in the UK since 1996.
- In 2021, the Turtle Dove was RSPB England’s Bird of the Year.
- Turtle doves can can live up to 12 years
- There are over forty different colour mutations/combinations of this domesticated species.
You can do your bit for British wildlife - including the lovable Turtle Dove- by putting out our Turtle Dove Mix and planting wildflowers in your garden!
