Turtle dove is a small dove that breeds in woodland and open country in Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. Turtle doves migrate, often in flocks, south to central Africa in winter. They fly swiftly and directly, with a flickering wing action. The turtle dove feeds on seeds of weeds and grains. Its purring coo is a common sound in spring. The turtle dove nests in thickets and orchards. The female generally lays two eggs on a thin platform of twigs and grass. Both parents provide care for the young. The mourning dove of North America is sometimes wrongly called a turtle dove.
