Pigeons and doves
Oriental Turtle Dove
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Streptopelia orientalis
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How to recognize it
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30 cm, larger than a turtle dove
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Brownish upperparts, pinkish underside
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Black-and-white bars on the neck
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Black tail with white edge; flight direct and relaxed
About the species
The Oriental Turtle Dove has a calm, understated look, with a soft overall impression rather than a showy one. Adults are especially easy to notice for the striped pattern on the neck.
Its voice is gentle and soft, and its flight feels steady and unhurried. In courtship, the male may flap noisily, rise up, and then glide down with the tail spread.
It uses mixed and broadleaf woods, but it also settles well around people, including parks and roadside plantings. It feeds mainly on seeds on the ground, and northern populations move south for winter.
Where to find
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In mature city parks with old deciduous trees, the Oriental Turtle Dove is easiest to notice by its soft cooing from the canopy and brief drops to the ground to feed on seeds.
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Along canal banks, pond edges, and riverside promenades — especially where reeds and damp openings meet trees — it forages on the ground after coming down from the branches.
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On tree-lined streets and in quiet courtyards with tall plantings, it often sits high in poplars or lindens and calls from the treetops.
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On park lawns and open clearings near old avenues, look for short ground walks and quick pecks at fallen seeds.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Streptopelia orientalis Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Oriental turtle dove Encyclopedia article