Turtle doves are common in forests throughout Europe.
Doves are in the Columbidae family of birds and are often confused with pigeons, which are also a part of the same family. Generally, doves are smaller than pigeons. While they have differences, doves share common characteristics. Almost all dove species produce a "cooing" sound for mating calls. Doves are one of the few birds to create "crop milk" -- excretion of cells from the bird's intestinal system -- for their young.
Ground Doves
The smallest dove in North and South America, the ground dove grows to 9 inches long, according to Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology (allaboutbirds.org). As its name suggests, the ground dove forages on the ground; it also builds its nest there, typically in tall grasses or under manmade structures. Ground doves do not migrate for the summer and winter. These birds are monogamous; a male and female ground doves pair up for life. Ground doves are stocky birds with short necks and tails; the ground dove's feathers are grayish-brown.
Turtle Doves
Common throughout the Europe, turtle doves have smaller heads and longer necks than other dove or pigeon species. Turtle dove heads tend to be gray-blue, while their colors change to brown and red on their bodies and wings. These migratory birds leave Europe in the winter for warmer climates in North Africa and the Middle East; some fly as far as India and Pakistan. When foraging, turtle doves swoop from their nests in the lower branches of trees to the ground for fruits and nuts.
Quail Doves
Quail Doves are group of 16 species in the bird genus, Geotrygon. These birds are native to tropical environments throughout the Caribbean Islands and South America. Two quail doves are threatened -- crested and russet-crowned quail doves -- and one species, the tuxtla quail dove, is endangered. Quail doves differ from other doves due to their mixture of purple and brown feathers and facial markings on their head. Quail doves live in dense tropical forests. Nesting occurs on tree branches, and quail doves look for food on the forest floor and trees.
Cuckoo-Doves
Cuckoo-doves -- also known as pigeons -- consist of several species in the Columbinae subfamily of birds. According to the Paradise Earth website, the nomadic species are seen in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Indonesia. The majority of cuckoo-doves have brown plumage; varying differences exist among species. A primary characteristic of all cuckoo-doves is their long, slender tail feathers. Cuckoo-doves are social birds and live pairings or groups of more than three specimens. Rainforest trees and shrubs are their primary nesting sites.
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