Turtle dove Streptopelia turtur

Small dove whose purring call is characteristic of summer

Habitat: countryside with hay meadows and weedy fields

Summer visitor breeding in southern Europe, including Britain; winters in Africa

Greyish underparts, black and brown upperparts; black and white bold neck stripe

Sits on wires making distinctive 'purring' call

Eats seeds, preferring weed seeds to cereals or grain

Nest is a platform of twigs in tree

Two broods May to June; 2 white eggs

Large numbers are shot 'for sport' in France and Iberia