Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
European Turtle-dove (Streptopelia turtur) - HBW 4, p. 133
French: Tourterelle des bois
German: Turteltaube
Spanish: Tórtola Europea
Other common names: Common Turtle-dove; Isabelline Turtle-dove (rufescens)
Taxonomy: Columba Turtur Linnaeus, 1758, India; error = England.
Related to S. lugens, S. hypopyrrha and S. orientalis. Birds of Nile Valley and Faiyûm have been separated as race isabellina, but claimed differences with rufescens probably sexual; in addition, males of this zone may be dimorphic. Four subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- turtur (Linnaeus, 1758) - C & S Britain E to Poland and N Russia, S to N Mediterranean coast, and on through Asia Minor and Syria to Kazakhstan and W Siberia; also Madeira and Canary Is.
- arenicola (Hartert, 1894) - Morocco E to Tripoli, and from Iraq and Iran E through Afghanistan, Turkestan and Kirghiz Steppes to NW China.
- hoggara (Geyr von Schweppenburg, 1916) - Hoggar and Aïr Massifs in S Sahara.
- rufescens (C. L. Brehm, 1855) - Dakhla and Kharga Oases in Egypt, as well as Faiyûm and parts of Nile Delta.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A close up of a bird, drinking and flying away Locality Jaulín, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 7 July 2007 4 years ago 30 sec 4.7 -
A bird on top of an argan tree, singing Locality Taffraoute, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco (ssp arenicola)
Josep del Hoyo 16 May 2006 5 years ago 51 sec 4.6 -
A bird beside a pond and flying away Locality Jaulín, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 29 May 2007 4 years ago 18 sec 4.5 -
Two birds drinking and flying away Locality Jaulín, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 7 July 2007 4 years ago 21 sec 4.4 -
a bird preening Locality Lower Austria, Austria
Andreas Gruber 17 July 2011 29 weeks ago 2 min 25 sec 4.3 -
A pair foraging. Locality Lake Volvi, Central Macedonia Region, Greece
Theo Mamais 30 May 2008 1 year ago 27 sec 4.3
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in flight
Locality Ramot, Golan Heights, Israel
Lior Kislev 18 June 2011 33 weeks ago 4.6 -
On the ground
Locality Arakhiya Farm, Qatar
John A Thompson 30 April 2010 1 year ago 4.4 -
A bird on the ground.
Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 11 July 2011 30 weeks ago 4.3 -
Showing wings
Locality Sealine Beach Resort, Mesaieed, Qatar
John A Thompson 28 May 2010 1 year ago 4.2 -
on a branch
Locality The Btecha (Jordan River Delta), Jordan Valley, Israel
Lior Kislev 12 June 2011 6 weeks ago 4 -
A juvenile at Hital reservoir.
Locality Hital Reservoir, Golan Heights, Israel
Lior Kislev 2 September 2010 1 year ago 4
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A male singing. Locality Forêt de Fontainebleau, France
(ssp turtur)
Julien Rochefort 30 June 2006 2 years ago 0
