Oriental Turtle Dove
Streptopelia orientalis (Latham, 1790) (2, 0)
Photo © Kris Webb
STATUS
Central and Eastern Palearctic. Polytypic.
OVERVIEW
Formerly known as Rufous Turtle Dove.
Records as per BOU (1971).
RECORDS
1). 1889 Yorkshire Oliver's Mount, Scarborough, immature, obtained, 23rd October, S. o. orientalis.
(Anon., Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1890: 361; J. Backhouse, jun., Naturalist 16: 258; Eds., Ibis 1890: 388; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1891: 365; Nelson, 1907; Witherby, 1920-24; Mather, 1986; Denton, 1995).
History Anon. (1890) in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, p. 361, at a meeting held on 6th May 1890, says: 'Mr. Henry Seebohm exhibited a specimen of the Eastern Turtle Dove (Turtur orientalis), which had been sent to him by Mr. James Backhouse, jnr., of York, with a letter stating that it had been shot on the 23rd of October last at a place commonly known as Nab Gutter, a small stream running from Oliver's Mount, near Scarborough, down to the sea. It flew very swiftly and was pursued by a number of small birds.
A Red-breasted Flycatcher (Muscicapa parva) was shot in the same locality on the same day.
This example of the Eastern Turtle Dove is in the plumage of the first autumn, without the pied patch on each side of the neck. The Oriental Turtle Dove, in its typical form, with the axillaries, under tail-coverts, and the tips of most of the tail-feathers bluish grey, bred in Southeast Siberia, China, and Japan, as well as in the hilly part of India.
It was not known to have previously occurred in the British Islands, but it had twice been recorded, both times in immature plumage, in the north of Scandinavia.'
J. Backhouse, jun. (1890) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XVI. p. 258, says: 'Early last autumn (October 23rd), a specimen of the Eastern Turtle Dove (Turtur orientalis) found its way, amongst other interesting birds, to Scarborough, and was captured near to that town by a local gunner and preserved by Mr. Head.
The bird has since come into my possession and was forwarded for identification to Mr. Seebohm, who writes (April 9th, 1890): - "The pigeon is a bird in first plumage of Turtur orientalis, and is probably a wild bird, as it has occurred more than once in Scandinavia....It is a most interesting addition to the list of Accidental visitors to England".
Although the specimen in question was kindly exhibited for me by Mr. Seebohm at a meeting of the Zoological Society, held on May 6th, it is only right that its occurrence should be noted in the pages of The Naturalist as a new Yorkshire bird.'
[It is of interest to add that by Mr. Backhouse's kindness this specimen now forms part of the collection in the York Museum - Ed.]
In an Editorial (1890) in The Ibis, Vol. XXXII. p. 388, it says: 'Turtur orientalis in Great Britain. - At the Zoological Society's Meeting on May 6th last, Mr. Seebohm exhibited a specimen of the Asiatic Turtle Dove (Turtur orientalis), which had been shot near Scarborough on the 23rd of October, 1889. This species (cf. Dresser, B. Eur., VII, pl. 463, p. 45) is new to the British list, but is said to have occurred twice in Scandinavia.'
J. Cordeaux (1891) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 364, says: '1890, Oct. 23rd, one, in first-year's plumage, captured near Scarborough by a local gunner (Nat., 1890, p. 258). Presented by Mr. J. Backhouse to the York Museum.'
Accepted locally (Nelson 1907 (2): 498; Mather 1986).
2). 1946 Norfolk Castle Rising, female, shot, 29th January, S. o. orientalis, now at Castle Museum, Norwich (Acc. No. NWHCM: 2009.90.).
(C. E. Gay, Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk 1946: 26-27; B. B. Riviere, British Birds 39: 184; Seago, 1977; Dye, Fiszer & Allard, 2009).
History C. E. Gay (1946) in Wild Bird Protection in Norfolk, pp. 26-27, under 'Miscellaneous Notes', says: 'On January 9th, during a Pheasant shoot at Castle Rising, a Turtle Dove was flushed from a covert by the beaters and shot by one of the guns. It was sent to Norwich Castle Museum for identification and proved to be a specimen of the Eastern Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis).
The distinguishing features were the large size, the dark slate blue-rump, and grey instead of white under tail-coverts, tips of neck patch feathers and ends of tail feathers. The bird was badly damaged but it appeared to be completing a moult from juvenile to first-winter plumage. It proved on dissection to be a female. It may have been an "escape" but a letter in the Eastern Daily Press asking for information as to any known to have been kept in aviaries met with no response. The bird was identified by B. B. Riviere, F.R.C.S. and E. A. Ellis.'
B. B. Riviere (1946) in British Birds, Vol. XXXIX. p. 184, says: 'January 29th, 1946, during a pheasant shoot at Castle Rising, a Turtle Dove was flushed from a covert by the beaters and shot by one of the guns. It was sent to the Norwich Castle Museum for identification and proved to be a specimen of the Eastern Turtle Dove Streptopelia o. orientalis.
Distinguishing features were the large size, the dark slate-blue rump, and grey instead of white under tail-coverts, tips of neck patch feathers and ends of tail-feathers. It proved to be a female on dissection and the measurements were as follows: - Wing 190 mm., tail 120 mm., tarsus 27 mm., and bill to feathers, 17 mm.
Unfortunately it was badly damaged by shot and had lost many of the outer coverts of both wings, but it appeared to be completing a moult from juvenile to first winter plumage. The five innermost primaries were new with very narrow whitish margins, while the five outer ones were worn and had broader rufous edges suggesting juvenile feathers. The two central and two outer tail-feathers were new, one of the latter being only half grown. The body moult appeared to have been completed, including the neck patches.
A bird such as this must always be under suspicion as an "escape", but a letter to the "Eastern Daily Press" asking for information as to any known to have been kept in aviaries in Norfolk elicited no replies. I may add that the identity of the bird had been recognized by Mr. E. A. Ellis, of the Norwich Castle Museum, before I saw it.'
Dye, Fiszer & Allard (2009) state that 29th January is the correct date.
