Turkish turtle dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is a medium-sized member of the pigeon family. When fully stretched, it measures 31 to 34 cm, and its wingspan ranges from 48 to 56 cm. It is thus only slightly smaller than the domestic pigeon, which is surely one of the most recognizable 'urban' animals. The Turkish turtle dove is a somewhat elongated dove with a long tail and pale plumage. The entire body is more or less uniformly light gray with a brownish tint. The wings and back are a shade darker than the body, and the tips of its wings are distinctly dark gray. Also the dark eye on the crown of the head stands out distinctly. When it takes to the air, it also shows white on the outer parts of the trailing edge of its rounded tail. Its dull pinkish legs and toes are easiest to notice when this bird walks on the ground in search of food. The most reliable identification is the black neck collar with a white edge. This 'collar' adorns the nape and reaches roughly to the middle of the neck. If we observe a specimen without a white-edged black collar on the neck, it is a young, sexually immature Turkish turtle dove.
The Turkish turtle dove is a diurnal herbivorous species. Its diet consists of seeds, fruits and green parts of plants. It has a preference for cereal grains, so it is often found near silos and fields.
It does not migrate, so it is a resident here, nesting from March to September and it can raise two to five broods during that period. The Turkish turtle dove is a fearless, trusting bird, adapted to life near humans. We call it an anthropogenic species. A plain-looking nest made of twigs, roots and other plant material is woven in a tree in the city – in a park, in a garden or at a cemetery; in the countryside it nests in an orchard or in a cultural landscape near a village. Both parents care for the young and firmly defend the nest from intruders. With the aim of drawing the predator away from the nest, they often feign injury and slowly move away from the helpless chicks in the nest.
The Turkish turtle dove spread from its homeland of India to the Balkans in the early 20th century, and from there it has since spread to all other parts of Europe. As mentioned, it lives in close association with humans and therefore is not endangered. Moreover, its numbers are still increasing.
