The deep, purring "tur tur" of the Turtle Dove can be heard from April to September, when it visits Britain from tropical Africa. It is the smallest of Britain's pigeons and doves and breeds commonly in the south and Midlands, rarely in Scotland and Ireland, where if found in the latter two it is only a passing migrant.

The plumage is chestnut on the back with black markings (scallops); the underparts are pinkish, the head, flanks and rump are light grey, with a few black and white stripes on the sides of the neck. The black tail is wedge shaped with a bold white border to the tip which is conspicuous in flight, the legs are red.

Biology:
Size: About 10.5 - 11 inches long (27cm).
Habitat: Fairly common in the south and east, associated with trees and cultivated land, but also parks and gardens.
Nesting: Builds a flimsy nest made of twigs high in a tree.
Eggs: Lays 2 white eggs/clutch between the months of May-July.
Food: Feeds on the seeds of weeds such as Common Fumitory, Chickweed, Charlock and Grass
Hatch Time: Usually about 14 days.