turtle dove

Bird Streptopelia turtur of the pigeon order Columbiformes. It is about 30 cm/1 ft long, with a long, rounded tail. The plumage is greyish brown, with yellow on the sides of the head and pink on the neck and breast. The back of the neck and crown are greyish blue, and the legs and toes are red. Two pure white eggs are laid in a rough structure of twigs placed in a tree near the ground. The male assists the female in incubation. It is a summer visitor to Europe, which it leaves in September to winter in Africa.

The collared turtle dove S. decaocto is about 25 cm/10 in long with a short tail; the general colour is grey, tinged with red, and the upper parts are greenish-brown, with a black collar on the back of the neck.