Turtle Dove is a lovely spotted pigeon from Europe wjich is the symbol of devotion and affection in the ancient European culture.Turtle Dove has also remained a main feature in the poetic stuff of the Renaissance Europe and the classical European folklore. The Turtle Dove is scientifically known as Streptopelia turtur and it is also named normally as the European Turtle Dove. The Turtle Dove is a member of the bird family Columbidae, the doves and pigeons. The natural habitat of the turtle dove is the region of the Northern Africa and Europe but naturally being a migratory bird, the population of the turtle dove is now found in many other countries of Asia as well.
The turtle dove is a bird of open rather than dense woodlands, and frequently feeds on the ground. It makes its nest occasionally in large gardens, but is usually extremely timid, probably due to the heavy hunting pressure it faces during migration. The flight is often described as arrowy, but is not remarkably swift. Smaller and slighter in build than many other doves, it measures 24–29 cm (9.4–11 in) in length, 47–55 cm (19–22 in) in wingspan and weighs 85–170 g (3.0–6.0 oz). the European Turtle Dove may be recognised by its browner colour, and the black-and-white-striped patch on the side of its neck. The tail is notable as the bird flies from the observer; it is wedge shaped, with a dark centre and white borders and tips. When viewed from below, this pattern, owing to the white under-tail coverts obscuring the dark bases, is a blackish chevron on a white ground. This can be seen when the bird stoops to drink and raises its spread tail.
This lovely spotted pigeon from Europe is although a specie of least concern on the list of threatened species of IUCN, but the population of the Turtle Dove is dangerously decreased on a rapid rate due to the massive farming and destuction of their natural habitat.