Why Do They Call It a Turtle Dove?

The turtle dove's Latin name is Streptopelia turtur. The second part comes from the bird's soft 'turr turr' call. 10. Possibly because of Biblical references (such as the Song of Songs) to turtle doves and because the birds form strong pair bonds, they have become cultural emblems of devoted love.

What is the difference between a dove and a turtle dove?

Key Difference: Doves and Turtle Doves are actually more similar than different. Doves are a species of birds in the Clumbidae family, while Turtle Doves are a subspecies and a type of Dove species. ... They are both part of the Columbidae family, while Turtle Doves are a subspecies of the Streptopelia genus.

What makes a turtle dove a turtle dove?

Turtledove, (Streptopelia turtur), also spelled turtle dove, European and North African bird of the pigeon family, Columbidae (order Columbiformes), that is the namesake of its genus. The turtledove is 28 cm (11 inches) long. Its body is reddish brown, the head is blue-gray, and the tail is marked with a white tip.