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.
Facts about Turtle Doves
- The Turtle Dove is Britain’s only migratory pigeon or dove.
- The Turtle Dove is smaller than the collared dove and slightly larger than the blackbird
- The Turtle Dove arrives in the UK in late April and May, leaving again between July and September
- The turtle dove is an easy bird to identify, with mottled brown and black wings, black tail, pale breast and notable black-and-white-striped neck patch.
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!
