Streptopelia turtur (Turtle Dove)

Scientific name: Streptopelia turtur (Linnaeus, 1758)

Bird group: Pigeons and Doves

Field characters. 27 cm. Darker than Collared Dove. Feathers on back dark with broad chestnut edges, giving scaly appearance. Head grey, chest deep pink, upperwings with grey field and dark flight feathers, tail dark with white rear border, especially obvious from below. Underside of wing grey. A spot on each side of neck formed by fine black and white lines. Flight fast and straight, with jerky wing beats, like Collared Dove.

Voice. Monotonous, soft 'turr turr turr'.

Distribution. Summer visitor. Common, but apparently decreasing in number.

Habitat. Open woodland, parks. Often feeds on arable land.

Food. Mainly seeds and fruits.

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