The wild dove is a bird that is part of the Columbid family.
The average size is 28 cm in length and 140 grams in weight.The black and white streaks on the neck make it quite easily distinguishable from similar species. It has pinkish chest and whitish belly; the wings and the rump are reddish, with brown scales. Looking at them from below in flight, the tips of the tail can be distinguished in white color.
His song is a lamenting series of "uuuh uuuuh uh", absolutely different from that of the Columba livia, which is more of a "crane crane".
The wild dove is a granivoro bird (durum wheat, sorghum, millet, rape, radish, fennel, buckwheat, white thistle), but it also feeds on small mollusks.
It reproduces from March to September, managing to complete two annual coves. It lays only two eggs, which hatch after two weeks of hatching; the eggs are hatched by both the female and the male.
Among the columbids it is the one that least fraternizes with man: it often lives on the edge of the city, except in Romagna, where they nest even in the most crowded areas.
In winter, turtle doves, except for specimens already present in Africa, migrate to this continent.
In Italy it can be observed almost everywhere; in fact, it nests everywhere, except in the Alps and some Apulian areas. In winter, from Eurasia they migrate to Africa.
Its preferential habitat is that of the fields, in the rural zones, where there are large trees on which to nest. Over time it has changed its habits and it is not uncommon to see it even in the city suburbs. It has been seen nesting even on small plants of terraces and balconies, provided that it is not often disturbed.
Breeding is not easy, but not impossible, you need experience, you have to feed them with more varieties of seeds than the common dove, it is advisable to also include freshly picked flowers such as thistle.
They are birds that need large spaces, breeding them in aviaries or in freedom, providing them with the right shelter done with special wooden boxes hanging with manger and water.
