The Turtle Dove is such a lovely bird! It's small and slender, and it can be spotted in many parts of Europe during the summer. Although it tends to be a bit shy, you can find it in woodlands, plantations, and bushy hedgerows. Sometimes, it even pays a visit to spacious urban and rural gardens.
These delightful Turtle Doves usually arrive in Britain from mid-April to early May, and they stay here until mid to late September. It's quite a sight in coastal areas during spring, as you can come across hundreds of them arriving after a long migration from Africa, all in a single day!
With its small head, slim body, long graduated tail, and unique variegated plumage, the Turtle Dove stands out as a charming little pigeon. What's really captivating is its soft and deep purring song, which goes like 'rrooorrr rrooorrr'. You can listen to this beautiful melody repeatedly during late spring and early summer.
The head has a lovely touch of soft gray on the forehead, crown, and back of the neck, accompanied by a sweet pinkish hue on the face. The neck displays unique black bars outlined in dazzling white. The body transitions from a beautiful tawny-brown mantle to a slate-gray rump and a dark, neatly folded tail. The wing boasts a rich chestnut color highlighted by striking black feathers, except for a graceful shade of gray on the front edge of the wing and the darker flight feathers.
The breast comes in a lovely shade of pinkish-grey, transitioning to a gentle off-white or pale grey on its flanks and belly. You'll notice its bill with a pale base and a charming black tip. As for its eye, it has a vibrant orange color accompanied by a splendid red orbital ring. If you look closely, you'll see that its legs and feet sport a delightful reddish-brown hue.
As viewed from below, the Turtle Dove catches your eye with its remarkable appearance. The soft gray head and rosy breast create a beautiful contrast against the dark gray and black underwings, as well as the black and white tail. Take note once more of the central tail feathers, which are black in color.
The view of the Turtle Dove from above is quite different compared to the view from below. Various colors like grey, chestnut, black, and white come together in a vibrant display. The tail pattern is especially eye-catching, with grey feathers in the center, fading to brown and then black, adorned with wide white tips except for the central tail feathers.
Young Turtle Doves display a soft, light-colored head without any markings on the neck, with less vivid brown rings. The wings have a lighter shade of gray compared to adults, and their chest has a noticeably lighter and buffy appearance.
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