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Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Columbiformes
Family:
Columbidae
BTO Codes:
TD , TURDO
EURING No:
6870
Number in Britain:
44 thousand territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
RED
European:
3 Concern, most not in Europe; Declining
Global:
Least Concern
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IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:
turtur recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
27 cm
Wingspan:
50 cm
Weight:
M/F: 140 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: streptos =a collar + peleia =a dove
and L.: turtur =the Turtle Dove
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Europe, c Asia, n Africa, WINTERS: south to c Africa
Habitat:
Open woodland, scrub, gardens
Diet:
Seeds of cereal and weeds
TitBit:
The only migratory dove in Europe,
Turtle Doves winter in west Africa gathering in massive roosts of up to
1 million birds; they are remarkably tolerant of heat, having been observed
foraging in temperatures of 45°C
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
44 thousand territories
in 2000
Note: Probably now an overestimate
First Record:
10th Century
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
No habitat data from BBS
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
Average Day of First Arrival:
20 Apr
European Population Size:
Summer:
2.5 to 4.7 million pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WBD(II*), Bern(III), Bonn(II*)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
30 x 22 mm
Egg Weight:
8.2 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
21
(more would be welcome!)
Clutch Size:
2 eggs
1.96 ± 0.24 (1 - 3) N = 474
Incubation:
15 - 16 days
14.99 ± 0.99 (13 - 17) N = 473
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
18 - 19 days
18.28 ± 1.63 (15 - 21) N = 573
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
12 Jun (15 May - 27 Jul)
Number of Broods:
2-3
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
85
Adult Survival:
No data
Juvenile Survival:
No data
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
No data
Maximum Recorded Age:
7yr 1m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
E
Wing Length
Adult:
178.9 ± 5.2
Range
171 - 187 mm, N =307
Juvenile:
168.0 ± 11.0
143 - 180 mm, N =60
Male:
180.2 ± 4.4
173 - 187 mm, N =149
Female:
175.9 ± 4.6
170 - 184 mm, N =87
Weight
Adult:
156.8 ± 15.33
Range
133.2 - 181.0 g , N =232
Juvenile:
140.1 ± 24.86
105.0 - 177.0 g , N =55
Male:
157.0 ± 14.19
135.0 - 181.0 g , N =94
Female:
155.1 ± 15.08 .
129.0 - 178.0 g , N =70
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
European Turtle Dove
Gaelic:
Turtar
Welsh:
Turtur
Danish:
Turteldue
Dutch:
Tortel
Finnish:
Turturikyyhky
French:
Tourterelle des bois
German:
Turteltaube
Hungarian:
Vadgerle
Icelandic:
Turtildúfa
Irish:
Fearán
Italian:
Tortora
Norwegian:
Turteldue
Polish:
Turkawka zwyczajna
Portuguese:
Rola-comum
Spanish:
Tórtola común
Swedish:
Turturduva
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Goodwin, D. 1983 Pigeons and doves of the world (3rd ed) Cornell University Press, Ithaca
[598.623 GOO]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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