Turtle Dove

🔍 Overview

A symbol of summer, now sadly rare in Sussex due to habitat loss and hunting on migration routes.

🪶 Key Identification Features

Mottled chestnut and black back

Delicate neck pattern

Gentle, purring song

🗺️ Habitat & Distribution

Breeds in East Sussex wood edges and scrub, found at Knepp, Upper Adur Valley and Woods Mill. Numbers have dropped steeply, but they arrive mid-April and depart by late August.

🎶 Voice & Behaviour

Soft, purring “turrr-turrr” song from low trees. Feeds quietly on the ground, often among tall vegetation.