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 5 years ago 30 sec 4.8 -
A bird on top of an argan tree, singing Locality Taffraoute, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco (ssp arenicola)
Josep del Hoyo 16 May 2006 6 years ago 51 sec 4.7 -
A bird beside a pond and flying away Locality Jaulín, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 29 May 2007 5 years ago 18 sec 4.6 -
a bird preening Locality Lower Austria, Austria
Andreas Gruber 17 July 2011 1 year ago 2 min 25 sec 4.3 -
A pair foraging. Locality Lake Volvi, Central Macedonia Region, Greece
Theo Mamais 30 May 2008 2 years ago 27 sec 4.3 -
An adult individual carrying material in its bill before flying to a presumed nest Locality Burgenland State, Austria (ssp turtur)
Malcolm Mark Swan 22 May 2006 5 years ago 18 sec 4.2 -
A bird on top of an argan tree, preening and opening the beak Locality Taffraoute, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco (ssp arenicola)
Josep del Hoyo 16 May 2006 6 years ago 43 sec 4.1 -
Foraging on the ground Locality Tucepi, Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia (ssp turtur)
Joe Angseesing 3 September 2009 12 weeks ago 48 sec 4 -
A bird on the ground Locality Souss Massa National Park, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco
Juan Sanabria 1 April 2012 43 weeks ago 46 sec 4 -
A bird in a pond and flying away. Locality Jaulín, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 25 May 2011 1 year ago 17 sec 4 -
A bird sitting on the ground and rising up. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 20 May 2010 2 years ago 36 sec 4 -
An adult sitting on the ground, looking around. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 20 May 2010 2 years ago 24 sec 4 -
A bird taking off. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 8 July 2009 3 years ago 21 sec 4 -
A migrating bird, seeking shelter from the wind, hundreds of miles from the shore. Locality Bay of Biscay, France (ssp turtur)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 29 August 2006 4 years ago 39 sec 4 -
A juvenile bird preening on a branch Locality Vilanova i la Geltru, Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain (ssp turtur)
Pere Sugranyes 31 March 2006 5 years ago 30 sec 4 -
A bird on top of an argan tree, alert Locality Taffraoute, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco (ssp arenicola)
Josep del Hoyo 16 May 2006 6 years ago 32 sec 3.9 -
A bird on the ground, preening, fluffing the plumage and yawning. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 20 May 2010 2 years ago 1 min 1 sec 3.9 -
A bird drinking and flying away. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 7 July 2012 17 weeks ago 14 sec 3.8 -
A bird on the ground pecking the soil. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 18 weeks ago 28 sec 3.8 -
A bird on the ground and flying away. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 19 weeks ago 52 sec 3.8 -
A male singing. Locality Essonne, Île-de-France, France (ssp turtur)
Julien Rochefort 27 May 2009 3 years ago 45 sec 3.8 -
A bird feeding on the ground Locality North Yorkshire, Yorkshire, England, Great Britain (ssp turtur)
Peter Nash 9 May 2006 6 years ago 42 sec 3.8 -
A bird on the ground. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 18 weeks ago 19 sec 3.8 -
Two birds drinking and flying away Locality Jaulín, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 7 July 2007 5 years ago 21 sec 3.7 -
A bird on the ground, bobbing its head, walking and drinking Locality Jaulín, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 7 July 2007 5 years ago 30 sec 3.7 -
An individual on the ground pecking the soil. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 18 weeks ago 17 sec 3.7 -
A bird drinking and flying away (part of the clip at slow motion). Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 20 weeks ago 20 sec 3.7 -
An individual drinking and flying away (part of the clip at slow motion). Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 24 weeks ago 29 sec 3.7 -
A bird foraging on the ground. Locality Almenara, Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain (ssp turtur)
Carlos Fabregat 27 August 2011 20 weeks ago 46 sec 3.6 -
An adult bird and a juvenile foraging on the ground. Locality Santillana Zoo, Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain (ssp turtur)
Carlos Fabregat 26 August 2007 17 weeks ago 28 sec 3.5 -
A bird walking (part of the clip ar slow motion). Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 22 weeks ago 30 sec 3.5 -
Pair, the male displaying to the female Locality Birdland Park & Gardens, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, England, Great Britain
Joe Angseesing 8 April 2011 36 weeks ago 21 sec 3.5 -
one bird preening Locality Dronten, Flevoland Province, Netherlands (ssp turtur)
Daniêl Jimenez 11 April 2008 1 year ago 1 min 3.5 -
A view of a bird resting Locality Pantan Nature Reserve, Trogir, Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia (ssp turtur)
Eric Roualet 27 April 2011 2 years ago 14 sec 3.5 -
A male singing Locality Sidi Bou Ghaba, Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen Region, Morocco (ssp arenicola )
Eric Roualet 26 March 2009 2 years ago 9 sec 3.5 -
A close up Locality Sidi Bou Ghaba, Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen Region, Morocco (ssp arenicola )
Eric Roualet 26 March 2009 2 years ago 8 sec 3.5 -
A pair displaying on the ground. Locality Muel, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain (ssp turtur)
Jesús Laborda 18 June 2012 19 weeks ago 23 sec 3.4 -
A pair preening Locality Pantan Nature Reserve, Trogir, Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia (ssp turtur)
Eric Roualet 27 April 2011 2 years ago 18 sec 3.3 -
A male perched Locality Korcula, Korcula Island, Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia (ssp turtur)
Eric Roualet 21 April 2011 2 years ago 15 sec 3.3 -
A pair on a wire, then flying away Locality Creuse, Limousin, France (ssp turtur)
Eric Roualet 22 July 2006 4 years ago 8 sec 3 -
An adult bird foraging at the edge of a tilled field behind a fence Locality Burgenland State, Austria (ssp turtur)
Malcolm Mark Swan 27 May 2006 5 years ago 34 sec 2.7 -
A bird calling from the top of the tree. Locality Flevoland Province, Netherlands (ssp turtur )
Yoel Jimenez 15 June 2009 2 years ago 34 sec 2.7 -
A bird in an acacia tree, preening. Locality Afar Plains, Afar Region, Ethiopia (ssp turtur)
Josep del Hoyo 27 November 2005 7 years ago 26 sec 2.5
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