Where and when Woodpigeon is now abundant, having spread into towns and cities in recent decades. Stock Dove is locally common in the countryside (mainly in arable areas) but may breed in mature urban woodlands. Feral Rock Dove (or ‘Feral Pigeon’) is of course abundant in urban environments, but generally scarce in the countryside. Wild Rock Doves are restricted to rocky coasts of n. and w. Scotland and n., w. and s. Ireland. Collared Dove is common, mainly around habitation, but Turtle Dove is now a very scarce summer visitor from late April to October. It has declined by about 93% since 1970 and is increasingly confined to eastern counties, having disappeared from most of its former range. It is widely predicted to become extinct as a British breeding bird. Collared is associated with suburban gardens and farmyards but Turtle Dove is most likely to be encountered in open, arable farmland or in bushy places.
A large pigeon, easily identified by a conspicuous thick white line cutting across the middle of the open wing, and visible at the bend of the wing at rest; it also has a conspicuous white patch on the neck-sides (lacking on juveniles, which are slightly browner than adults and have a dark eye, like Stock Dove). In flight, easily identified by its shape: a small head, full breast, rather swept-back, pointed wings and a fairly long tail; from below, the underwings are grey and the tail is crossed by a pale band. When flushed, it takes off with a loud clatter of wings, often bursting violently from cover. In display, it flies steeply upwards, claps its wings and glides downwards. The song is a well-known, lazy, coo-COOO coo-coo coo, peculiarly evocative of balmy summer days.
In winter, often associates with Woodpigeons. In flight, easily identified (with practice) by shape alone: smaller than Woodpigeon and more evenly proportioned, being stocky and compact, with shorter, stiffer, more triangular wings and a shorter tail. They often fly in pairs, one behind the other, even in winter. It lacks white in the plumage but note the broad black border to the end and rear of the upperwing and also the dark grey underwings (silvery-white on Rock Dove and on most grey Feral Pigeons). On the ground, it shows a brightly coloured bill and cere: red with a yellow or whitish tip (cf. grey bill and whitish cere of Rock Dove). However, juvenile Stock Dove has a dull greyish or brownish bill. It also has an emerald-green neck patch (lacking on juvenile), a double black bar on the inner greater coverts and tertials (visible at rest). The eye is dark (white on adult Woodpigeon). The male’s display flight is straight, with slow, deep wingbeats before clapping its wings over the back and then gliding with the wings slightly above the horizontal. The song is a distinctive deep moaning ooo-ah, sometimes given about ten times in accelerating sequence.
Wild Rock Doves are attractive, being pale grey above with two thick black bars across the tertials/greater coverts and median coverts, darker grey head and underparts and a white rump. In flight, dark underparts contrast markedly with silvery-white underwings (grey on Stock Dove and Woodpigeon). Grey bill and whitish cere (cf. adult Stock). Feral pigeons are highly variable: many resemble their wild ancestors but many are chequered or irregularly patterned. The plumage varies from grey to blackish, white or brown. Adults usually have red or orange eyes (dark on Stock Dove). Shape is important when separating Rock Dove from both Woodpigeon and Stock Dove in flight. It is intermediate between the two and a narrowly pointed, protruding head and swept-back, pointed wings easily separate it from the stockier, more compact Stock Dove. It often glides on V-shaped wings. Its display flight consists of exaggerated slow, deep wingbeats followed by loud wing-claps and a long glide on V-shaped wings. The song is a moaning oo-oo-oor. It inhabits cliffs and buildings, and usually ignores trees (although in city centres it often uses thicker branches as a daytime roost).
Collared is a familiar pale, sandy dove with pale underwings and a long tail, the distal half of the underside being white. In flight it is easily separated from Turtle Dove by proportionately shorter, more rounded wings that produce a characteristic lolloping flight action. Turtle Dove has dark grey underwings, a contrasting pale belly and a narrower white tip to the tail; it is smaller than Collared Dove, with a shorter, more tapered tail and its swept-back, fairly pointed wings produce a whipping flight action. Differences at rest are obvious, Turtle Dove being easily identified by the rufous tortoise-shell pattern of the upperparts, grey head and vinous breast. Juvenile Turtle Dove is much duller and drabber than the adult, lacking rich rufous upperparts, the grey crown, vinous breast and noticeable neck-patch. Juvenile Collared is also duller than the adult, lacking the half-collar, and it has pale feather fringes on the upperparts. Songs are completely different: Collared has a familiar rather deep cooing oo-OOO oo, whereas Turtle gives a soft, purring turrrr turrrr. Collared also gives a harsh, nasal ‘excitement’ call. In display, both species fly up and then glide down on spread wings.
Turtle Doves are extremely rare in winter and any seen at this season should be thoroughly checked for vagrant Oriental Turtle Dove (ten records to 2011). Wintering individuals of both species are likely to turn up in gardens and anyone finding such a bird should endeavour to obtain photographs and seek expert help. There are two races. Nominate orientalis, from central Siberia and SE Asia, is significantly larger and heavier than Turtle Dove, with a shorter tail and proportionately shorter, more rounded wings. The latter produce a more ponderous flight, lacking the ‘whippy’ effect of Turtle Dove. Adults appear darker, purplish-brown on the head and underparts, lacking Turtle Dove’s contrasting whitish belly, vent and undertail- coverts, and they have a dark blue-grey rump. Juvenile/first-winters are pinky-brown on the head and breast, with perhaps a tint of purple. The feathers on the upperparts of adults have rounded dark grey centres with rufous fringes, forming a strongly scalloped pattern (feather centres narrower and pointed on Turtle Dove). The equivalent juvenile feathers, some of which may persist into winter, are brown with narrower buff fringes. Whitish tips to the median and greater coverts form subtle wing-bars. Other features include: (1) Oriental lacks Turtle Dove’s area of bare skin around the eye; (2) the neck-patch consists of four to six narrow black-and-greyish lines (fewer and thicker black-and-white lines on Turtle Dove) and (3) the tip of the tail is greyer. The w. Siberian race meena is smaller than orientalis, whiter on the vent and undertail-coverts, and has white tips to the tail feathers.