Turtle Dove Diet and Size: Feeding Habits, Predators, and Measurements

The Turtle Dove is the smallest member of the dove family that can be seen in the UK during the months of April to September. They migrate from their northern European breeding grounds all the way to Sub-Saharan Africa where they overwinter.

The Turtle Dove is a peaceful, energetic little bird who prefers to nest in thickets or thorny hedgerows and shrubs close to sources of food. There has been a decrease in the UK breeding population of the Turtle Dove by 99% in the period 1967 to 2020.

Keep reading to find out more information about these interesting birds.

The Dietary Habits Of The Turtle Dove

Let’s start by looking at what Turtle Doves eat and what they feed their young.

What Does A Turtle Dove Eat?

The diet of the Turtle Dove mainly consists of the seeds of cereals and weeds. They favour chickweed and fumitory seeds but also eat any grain crop seed including oil seed rape.

Turtle Doves are ground feeders and will also take split grain but are not often found in gardens. They prefer open woodlands, hedgerows and grassland.

What To Feed A Baby Turtle Dove? 

The parents both produce a milk-like substance known as “crop milk” which is produced in the crop or lower oesophagus. They both feed this crop milk to the young altricial chicks whilst they are still dependent on their parents.

As the chicks grow and develop they are fed on seeds gathered by the parents. And once the younglings fledge the nest they are shown where and how to gather their own food before they leave the nesting site altogether.

Breeding Habits Of Turtle Doves

At the beginning of the breeding season, male Turtle Doves try to impress females by puffing out their chests and bobbing their heads up and down. Once they form a pair, both the male and female will build the nest.

The female constructs the nest while the male gathers nesting materials. The nests consist of twigs, grass and leaves that are loosely put together typically in thorny thickets or shrubs.

Do Turtle Doves Mate For Life?

Turtle Doves are monogamous and mate for life. Sadly that life is relatively short due to environmental, predatory and human interference factors. 

With most Turtle Doves only surviving for around 2 years. However, there have been recorded cases of individuals surviving for as long as 11 years.

The Size & Weight Of Turtle Doves

Turtle Doves are the smallest members of the dove family to visit the UK. They are a rare sight nowadays as their worldwide population has decreased dramatically. Let’s look at the size and weight of these lively little birds. 

How Much Does A Turtle Dove Weigh?

The average weight of an adult Turtle Dove is around 130 to 180 grams. That’s around a similar weight as a standard billiard ball or a regular sized apple.

How Big Is A Turtle Dove?

Adult Turtle Doves are around 26 to 28 cm in length with a wingspan of around 47 to 53 cm. Which is around the same size as an adult Red Knot (calidris sandpiper).

Are Turtle Doves Under Threat?

The Turtle Dove is the fastest declining bird species in the UK and is Red listed by the UK Birds of Conservation Concern. The Turtle Dove is classified as “vulnerable” by the Species of European Conservation Concern (SECC) as well as by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Sadly, one of the main threats faced by the Turtle Dove as a species is the shooting of many of these birds in countries like France,  Spain and Morocco where many thousands (or even millions) are shot every year. However, that’s not their only problem, Turtle Doves also face problems due to the loss of habitat, with many farmers removing hedgerows.

Increased use of herbicides also means there are less weed seeds for Turtle Doves to feed on, as a result of this lack of food, many pairs can now only successfully raise one brood instead of the usual 2 or 3 broods of previous years.

There are also new diseases that are seriously affecting the population of Turtle Doves. Diseases like the protozoan Trichomonas gallinae which typically affects young chicks.

Without an international species action plan that considers the whole lifecycle of the Turtle Dove the extinction of this species is almost inevitable.

What Eats A Turtle Dove?

As if all of their problems with habitat loss, lack of food, shooting and diseases wasn’t enough, the Turtle Dove also faces threats from predators. Adults are often taken as prey by hawks and falcons.

While the eggs and chicks are often taken by snakes, rats, squirrels and domestic cats.

Where Can I See Turtle Doves In The UK?

Turtle Doves are becoming a rare sight in the UK but can still be seen in areas of the east and south of England during the months of April to September.

There are a number of sites around the east and south of England where Turtle Doves can be seen including;

Eastern England

Sites where Turtle Doves can be spotted in eastern England include;

• Black Bourn Valley (Suffolk)
• RSPB Boyton & Hollesley Marshes (Suffolk)
• RSPB Minsmere (Suffolk)
• RSPB North Warren (Suffolk)
• Wrabness (Essex)
• Fingringhoe Wick (Essex)
• RSPB Snettisham (Norfolk)
• RSPB Titchwell Marsh (Norfolk)
• Bure Marshes (Norfolk)
• Pensthorpe (Norfolk) this site has a captive flock of Turtle Doves that can be seen all year round
• RSPB Fowlmere (Cambridgeshire)

Southern England

Turtle Doves can be seen at the following places in southern England;

• Oare Marshes (Kent)
• RSPB Motney Hill (Kent)
• Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve (Kent)
• Woods Mill (West Sussex)
• Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve (West Sussex)
• Martin Down National Nature Reserve (Wiltshire)

Northern England

In the north of England, Turtle Doves can be seen in the following places;

• Dalby Forest (North Yorkshire)
• Sutton Bank (North Yorkshire)

Please note it is only possible to see Turtle Doves in any of these areas during the breeding season from April to September. With the exception of Pensthorpe in Norfolk where a captive flock of Turtle Doves can be seen all year round.

SEE ALSO: Spoonbill Life Cycle: Nest Building To Fledging

Frequently Asked Questions