Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur
The Turtle Dove is a dainty dove, smaller and darker than the Collared Dove and slightly larger than a Blackbird. Its upperparts are distinctively mottled with chestnut and black and its black tail has a bright white edge. The gentle purr of the Turtle Dove was once an evocative sound of summer prior to its decline in numbers.
Best looked for in woodland edges, hedgerows and open land with scattered bushes.
Arrives in late April and May, leaving again between July and September.
It is a seed eater.
It is mainly a bird of southern and eastern England, although it does reach as far as Wales. It has become increasingly rare following substantial population declines which make it a Red List species.
Following its recent decline it is now an uncommon migrant breeder in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Tim Caldicott
Rutland Water, Egleton NR
03 May 2005
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Turtle Dove, European Turtle Dove
- Species group:
- Birds
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
- Order:
- Columbiformes
- Family:
- Columbidae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 8
- First record:
- 27/08/2000 (Richard Ellison)
- Last record:
- 15/05/2016 (Mathers, Steve)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.