Latin Etymology: Streptopelia ("collar-dove") turtur ("turtle dove")
Adult European Turtle Dove (subspecies S. t. turtur) at Brigstock, Northants - July 2011
Weight: 130g / Length: 24-29cm / Wingspan: 47-55cm
UK RED LIST / IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
The rarest of the five members of the pigeon family found in the UK, it resembles the Collared Dove but with a mottled brown and black back. Increasingly rare for reasons which include loss of habitat and poaching as it migrates over the Mediterranean. The best way to locate it is to listen for its call, which sounds like it is vibrating version of a pigeon call. It is our only migrant pigeon and thus is only found for a few months during the summer.
Related Species:
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbiidae
Genus: Streptopelia
Subspecies: S. t. turtur, S. t. arenicola, S. t. hoggara, S. t. rufescens
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - Rare and decreasing Summer migrant (14,000 territories)
- Seen on several occasions in Summer at Fermyn Woods and heard at Rye Harbour
ITALY - Italian - Tortora Comune ("Common Turtledove")
A Summer migrant.
- SICILY 2018 TRIP - One seen at Fiume Ciane
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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