Oriental Turtle Dove vs Eurasian Collared Dove

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Also known as: Rufous Turtle Dove

How to recognise an Oriental turtle dove?

General appearance

The Oriental turtle dove is a large bird measuring 13-14 inches (33-35 cm), similar in size to a crow or robin. It exhibits a bold scaly pattern characterized by rich rufous, buff, or whitish edges on the dark feathers of the back, scapulars, and wings. It has a primarily smooth buffy gray head and underparts. A unique feature includes a patch of black and white lines on the side of its neck. The wings are broad and pointed, while the tail is rounded and square-tipped.

Male vs female

There is not much sexual dimorphism in the Oriental Turtle Dove, and the appearance of males and females is largely similar. Both genders display the same coloration and physical traits, making them difficult to distinguish purely based on appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Oriental turtle doves closely resemble the adults but may have a slightly duller color palette. Over time, as they mature, their colors may become more vibrant and they gain the distinctive scaly pattern on their upper body. They also develop the characteristic black and white neck patches.

Size

13.0 - 13.8 in/5.8 - 9.6 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Oriental turtle dove primarily inhabits regions in Asia, including China, Japan, and the Himalayas. It prefers temperate forested areas, open woodland, and agricultural regions.

Additional range

Interestingly, the Oriental turtle dove can also be found in city parks and gardens, showing this bird’s adaptability to diverse environments.

Range Map

What do Oriental turtle doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The Oriental turtle dove primarily feeds on plant-based items such as seeds, grains, and fruits. It forages on the ground, searching for seeds from various grasses and weeds. Additionally, it consumes small fruits and berries, particularly favoring those from shrubs and low trees. In agricultural areas, this dove may be found eating surplus grains like rice and wheat spilled during harvesting.

Bird feeders

Oriental turtle doves visiting bird feeders are often attracted to seeds and grains, such as millet and cracked corn. They also consume sunflower seeds, which are a common offering in feeders. Bird enthusiasts may spot these doves picking up spillage beneath feeders, as they prefer to eat off the ground. Providing a mix of seeds and ensuring there is space for ground feeding can encourage their visits to bird feeders.

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Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

How to recognise a Eurasian collared dove?

General appearance

The Eurasian collared dove measures approximately 12 1/2 inches (32 cm) in length. Its predominant color is pale brown, with a distinctive narrow black ring around its neck. It has large white patches on its outer tail feathers. The species is darker than the domesticated Ringed-Turtle-Dove, especially on undertail coverts and wingtips. The size is roughly equivalent to that of a crow. The wings are of a broad and pointed shape, and the tail shape is generally rounded or square-tipped.

Male vs female

There are minimal noticeable differences between the sexes in the Eurasian collared dove. Both males and females exhibit similar features such as the black neck ring, pale brown body color, and white patches on the tail. Any variation is subtle and generally indistinguishable in the wild.

Juvenile

Juvenile Eurasian collared doves are similar in size and color to adults, but they may have slightly duller coloration. Recognizing them may be challenging due to their resemblance to adult birds until they attain their distinctive adult plumage.

Size

11.4 - 11.8 in/4.9 - 6.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Eurasian collared dove typically inhabits suburbs and farmland, especially those with a mixture of trees and open ground. It seems to thrive better in small towns than in larger cities.

Additional range

In its original Asian range, it's found in semi-open dry country with scattered trees and groves. They are versatile and adaptable, able to live in a variety of environments including wood edges and open country.

Range Map

What do Eurasian collared doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The Eurasian collared dove primarily consumes a diet consisting mostly of seeds, with additional intake of some berries and insects. In North America, the specific details of their diet are not yet well known. In Europe, they are known to feed on waste grain from many cultivated crops, alongside seeds from various plants. Their diet may also occasionally include some berries and small insects, with snails being consumed rarely.

Bird feeders

While feeding at bird feeders, Eurasian collared doves are known to consume bread crumbs and other foods provided by humans. This behavior indicates their adaptability to supplementary food sources made available in human-inhabited environments.

What does a Eurasian collared dove sound like?

The Eurasian collared dove typically produces a deep, rhythmic kuk-kooooo-kuk call, which heavily emphasizes the middle syllable. This call generally portrays a flat pattern and is categorized as a hoot type. Additionally, the dove can emit a harsh, mewing nasal call note, compared by many observers to the high-volume call of a Gray Catbird. Its vocalizations, therefore, blend unique elements of distinctness and familiarity.

Call

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Paul Marvin

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Gabriel Leite

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Jonathon Jongsma

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Oriental Turtle Dove

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Eurasian Collared Dove

Oriental Turtle Dove

Streptopelia orientalis

Also known as: Rufous Turtle Dove

General appearance

The Oriental turtle dove is a large bird measuring 13-14 inches (33-35 cm), similar in size to a crow or robin. It exhibits a bold scaly pattern characterized by rich rufous, buff, or whitish edges on the dark feathers of the back, scapulars, and wings. It has a primarily smooth buffy gray head and underparts. A unique feature includes a patch of black and white lines on the side of its neck. The wings are broad and pointed, while the tail is rounded and square-tipped.

Male vs female

There is not much sexual dimorphism in the Oriental Turtle Dove, and the appearance of males and females is largely similar. Both genders display the same coloration and physical traits, making them difficult to distinguish purely based on appearance.

Juvenile

Juvenile Oriental turtle doves closely resemble the adults but may have a slightly duller color palette. Over time, as they mature, their colors may become more vibrant and they gain the distinctive scaly pattern on their upper body. They also develop the characteristic black and white neck patches.

Size

13.0 - 13.8 in/5.8 - 9.6 oz

There's more to learn about Oriental Turtle Dove

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Eurasian Collared Dove

Streptopelia decaocto

General appearance

The Eurasian collared dove measures approximately 12 1/2 inches (32 cm) in length. Its predominant color is pale brown, with a distinctive narrow black ring around its neck. It has large white patches on its outer tail feathers. The species is darker than the domesticated Ringed-Turtle-Dove, especially on undertail coverts and wingtips. The size is roughly equivalent to that of a crow. The wings are of a broad and pointed shape, and the tail shape is generally rounded or square-tipped.

Male vs female

There are minimal noticeable differences between the sexes in the Eurasian collared dove. Both males and females exhibit similar features such as the black neck ring, pale brown body color, and white patches on the tail. Any variation is subtle and generally indistinguishable in the wild.

Juvenile

Juvenile Eurasian collared doves are similar in size and color to adults, but they may have slightly duller coloration. Recognizing them may be challenging due to their resemblance to adult birds until they attain their distinctive adult plumage.

Size

11.4 - 11.8 in/4.9 - 6.3 oz

There's more to learn about Eurasian Collared Dove

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How to tell the Oriental Turtle Dove from the Eurasian Collared Dove

Visual differences

The Oriental Turtle Dove is larger (13-14 inches) with a bold scaly pattern marked by rich rufous or buff edges on dark feathers and a black-and-white neck patch. In contrast, the Eurasian Collared Dove is smaller (12 1/2 inches) with a pale brown body, distinctive narrow black neck ring, and large white outer tail patches. Both species have broad, pointed wings and rounded, square-tipped tails, but the Turtle Dove's vibrant scaliness distinguishes it from the simpler coloration of the Collared Dove.

Key differences and behavior

The Oriental Turtle Dove and the Eurasian Collared Dove exhibit notable behavioral differences. Oriental Turtle Doves are more vocal, with a gentle, purring song during courtship and mutual preening between pairs, whereas the Eurasian Collared Dove employs steep flight displays and harsh calls. Habitat-wise, Oriental Turtle Doves favor temperate forests and agricultural lands, frequently adapting to city parks, while Eurasian Collared Doves thrive in suburban farmlands and semi-open areas. Both species exhibit cooperative nesting, but Oriental Turtle Doves share incubation duties based on time of day, unlike the Eurasian Collared Dove’s preference for elevated locations and multiple broods annually. In terms of diet, Oriental Turtle Doves favor seeds, grains, and fruits, often foraging on the ground, whereas Eurasian Collared Doves consume seeds and occasionally berries and insects, adapting well to feeding from bird feeders.

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

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Oriental Turtle Dove or Eurasian Collared Dove?

Oriental Turtle Dove

How to recognise an Oriental turtle dove?

Habitat

What do Oriental turtle doves like to eat?

There's more to learn about Oriental Turtle Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

How to recognise a Eurasian collared dove?

Habitat

What do Eurasian collared doves like to eat?

What does a Eurasian collared dove sound like?

Call

Song

Song

Song

There's more to learn about Eurasian Collared Dove

Oriental Turtle Dove

There's more to learn about Oriental Turtle Dove

Eurasian Collared Dove

There's more to learn about Eurasian Collared Dove

How to tell the Oriental Turtle Dove from the Eurasian Collared Dove

Visual differences

Key differences and behavior

Still not sure? Here are more lookalikes!

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Oriental Turtle Dove

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Eurasian Collared Dove vs [Select a bird]

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