Ringed Turtle Dove

Identification - Pictures and Video

Ringed Turtle Doves (Streptpelia risoria) are about the same size as Morning doves, about 10 to 12 inches. They are creamy tan color, with a black ring at the back of the neck. They have a fairly long, rounded tail with white in the corners. When they fly the dark primary wing feathers stand out against the pale body. Like other doves their heads bob each time they take a step. Males and females look alike, but the males are slightly larger. While they are usually found alone or in pairs, it is common to see them in groups, or even flocks of hundreds, especially if they are feeding.

Photo by Keith Lee.  The camera I use is the Canon EOS 40D.

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Calls and Songs
Just like other doves they make a soft cooing sound. Many people think they are hearing an owl when they hear this. They also make laughter like cackling sound. When the birds are in flocks their wings make quite a bit of noise when they take off.

Hear Mourning Dove Sound

Range and Habitat

Turtle doves like to rest in treetops, and can be found around people in parks, and in woodlands. They may also be found in cities.   
Turtle doves are one of the most popular birds kept in cages. Most populations found in the U.S. are from previously caged birds.

I'm sure many people remember the two turtle doves in the song Twelve Days Of Christmas.

Breeding and Nesting

Turtle doves are monogamous and breed through out the year. The females usually lay two cream white eggs in a flimsy nest of twigs they build in branches of trees or shrubs. The two birds will take turns sitting on the eggs, which will hatch in around 15 days. The young birds will leave the nest around 2 weeks after hatching. The adults may breed and lay more eggs after the chicks leave the nest, but the male will continue to feed the young birds.

Food and Feeding

The doves feed mainly on seeds, but they also eat like insects. Doves drink by sucking water, unlike most birds, which will raise their heads to let the liquid run down their throats.

Below is a video of doves at a water dish.  For other bird videos please visit our Youtube channel and subscribe or like our videos.

Most videos on my site were taken with the Canon HG10 camcorder.

Birdbaths will also attract doves. 

For more on food and feeding click here.
For more on feeders click here.

Dove posters

To learn about other favorite birds click here.