The European Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a well-known bird whose name often leads to confusion, as many assume it links this slender, graceful bird to the shelled reptile. This assumption is a common misunderstanding that overlooks the true, ancient linguistic origin of the bird’s common name. The story of the name “turtle” is not one of visual similarity but of sound, tracing back to the earliest attempts to describe the bird’s unique vocalization.
What is the Turtle Dove?
The European Turtle Dove is a small, delicate member of the pigeon and dove family, Columbidae. It is characterized by its slender build, typically measuring between 26 to 28 centimeters long, with a wingspan up to 53 centimeters. The adult bird features a pale grey-lilac head and breast, contrasting with distinctively mottled plumage of chestnut and black diamonds on its wings and back. A defining feature is the black and white striped patch on the side of its neck.
This species is a long-distance migratory bird within its range across the Western Palearctic. It spends its breeding season in Europe and parts of the Middle East, generally arriving in northern regions from late April to May. It migrates south again in September, traveling thousands of miles to winter in sub-Saharan Africa. The turtle dove favors open woodlands, thickets, and hedgerows, where it forages primarily on the ground for seeds and grains.
The Etymological Journey of the Name
The name “turtle” in “Turtle Dove” has no relationship to the reptile of the same spelling. The origin is purely linguistic, stemming from the Latin word for the bird, turtur. This Latin term is a classic example of onomatopoeia, a word whose sound imitates the sound it represents. The name thus originated as a direct imitation of the dove’s own vocalization.
This ancient Latin name, turtur, was adopted into the English language many centuries ago. It appeared in Old English as turtle for the female, eventually evolving into the Middle English turtel or turtul. The modern English name “turtle dove” is a combination of the word derived from the Latin onomatopoeia and the general term “dove.” The scientific genus name, Streptopelia, also holds a descriptive meaning, combining the Greek words streptos (collar) and peleia (dove), referencing the neck markings of many species in the group.
The Distinctive Sound That Inspired the Name
The ancient name directly reflects the bird’s most recognizable acoustic signature: a soft, low, and rhythmic call. This vocalization is described as a gentle, vibrating “turr-turr” or “tur-tur-turr,” which is unique among European doves. The sound is not the sharp coo of a typical pigeon but a soothing, purring noise.
The male dove uses this low, purring song to communicate with a mate and to establish its breeding territory. Often delivered from a high perch in a tree or hedgerow, the sound is a traditional acoustic hallmark of the European summer. This characteristic vocalization was so distinct and repetitive that early speakers naturally transcribed it into the onomatopoeic Latin word turtur. The sound’s melancholic quality has historically made the turtle dove a symbol of devoted love and fidelity in literature and culture.