Turtle dove

Streptopelia turtur
Pigeons (Columbidae)

CC-BY 2.0 rights : David King

Small brown pigeon with a pinkish belly and head, lower belly is white. The back looks scaled due to the light edged feathers. Wingtips and tail are dark. The eye has a red edge making it appear larger. At the side of the neck, there are black/white striped markings.

Often with other pairs breeding in small groups.   

⇔ l. 25-30 cm

The only migratory pigeon, wintering in Africa and breeding in Europe and West Asia. In west Europe it has become rare due to hunting.

LA:
≈ The STREPTOPELIA DECAOCTO (Collared dove) is more even coloured and the neck markings are more collar like. 
≈ The STREPTOPELIA ORIENTALIS (Oriental turtle dove) is difficult to separate, mainly based on location; it lives further towards east Europe and Asia wintering in south Asia and in west Europe only as a vagrant. See photo LA.

Where?

Family(5)

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