Description:

Slimmer, slightly smaller and paler than very similar oriental turtle-dove. Has white sides and tip to tail. Told from Oriental by smaller size and slimmer build; broader, paler rufous-buff fringes to scapulars and wing-coverts; and greyish-pink breast becoming whitish on belly and undertail-coverts.

Distribution:

Vagrant to the extreme northern borders of Hunza and Ghizer districts. Inhabits wide variety of woodland types, as well as steppe and semi-desert and cultivated areas in dry mountain valleys. Essentially a lowland species rarely above 2000m.

Behavior:

Although largely arboreal, finds most of its food on the ground. Forages by walking slowly and plucking food in the grass or foliage. Seeds and fruits of weeds and cereals comprise most of diet. Berries and fungi are occasionally eaten; also earthworms, some insects, pupae and small snails.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of European Turtle-Dove in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of European Turtle-Dove

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.