What is the typical lifespan of a wood pigeon?
How long do turtledoves live in the wild
How long do turtledoves live in captivity?
How Do Most Turtle Doves Die?
What is the life cycle of a turtledove?
What are the turtledove’s natural enemies?
How big was the oldest wood pigeon?
How long can a turtledove live without food?
How do turtledoves survive the winter?
Are Wood Pigeons Protected?
The humble wood pigeon is one of the most common representations in Great Britain and Western Europe pigeon family Dove and dove family. Wood pigeons are the third most common garden bird in the UK, after blue tits and blackbirds. Here we will answer the question; how long do turtledoves live?
The average lifespan of a turtledove is about 3 years, but many doves live to be around 6 years old. The wood pigeon’s relatively short lifespan is due to a high first-year mortality rate. During the first year of life, as many as 52% of young birds die. Wood pigeons, however, are prolific breeders and are one of the few species that breed almost year-round. This is partly how they maintain high numbers despite their short lifespan and high mortality rate.
Wood pigeons may look silly and goofy, but they are actually one of the smartest birds on the planet. Pigeons, dubbed ‘Britain’s most misunderstood bird’, have an amazing memory and have passed a mirror test, meaning they can recognize their own reflection.
Wood pigeons also mate for life and maintain a strong pair bond during this time, which helps them save courtship time and focus on breeding! Read on to learn more about the lifespan of these hardy, intelligent and adaptable birds.
The average lifespan of a wood pigeon is about three years
What is the typical lifespan of a wood pigeon?
The average lifespan of a turtledove is about 3 years, but some studies have found that 3 to 6 years may be more accurate.
Wood pigeons have a short lifespan for their size, but they make the most of this lifespan as they are one of the only birds in Europe that breed year-round.
In fact, wood pigeons have been recorded as nesting monthly, in stark contrast to most birds that only breed two to four months a year.
How long do turtledoves live in the wild
In the wild, the average lifespan of a turtledove is about 3 years, and in some places it can even reach 6 years. 52% of juvenile wood pigeons die in their first year, and the year-on-year survival rate for adults is around 61%.
Therefore, very few young birds and about 4/10 adult wood pigeons die every year. Despite this, there have been cases of pigeons that have survived for more than 10 years in the wild, the oldest of which was 17 years and 8 months old!
Wood pigeons compensate for high mortality by laying about 3 clutches per year, but if brooding fails some couples will try to lay more eggs. Wood pigeons can attempt up to six litters a year.
Close up portrait of a wooden pigeon
How long do turtledoves live in captivity?
Wood pigeons in captivity are rare – these are very wild birds. However, racing pigeons and pigeons in captivity can live comfortably for 10 to 15 years. A wood pigeon may live just as long if cared for properly.
How Do Most Turtle Doves Die?
Most wood pigeons die as fledglings or juveniles. Wood pigeon chicks are vulnerable to predation in their nests by crows, hawks (especially sparrowhawks), squirrels, owls, foxes and house cats.
About 73% of the nests survived and about 52% of the young wood pigeons survived to 1 year old.
Once an adult, wood pigeons still face threats from a wide range of predators. They also become susceptible to disease and cold as they age.
Wood pigeons foraging on the ground in autumn
What is the life cycle of a turtledove?
Wood pigeons have a relatively quick life cycle, but they will live with their parents for a considerable amount of time before becoming independent. In the UK and Western Europe, hatching takes about 17 days, and birds develop their wings after about 30 to 36 days.
After that, the males may continue to occasionally feed them for about two weeks while the females prepare for the next brood.
- Incubation time: 17 to 19 days
- fledgling: 30 to 36 days
- Sexual Maturity: 7 to 12 months
- life: 3 to 6 years old
What are the turtledove’s natural enemies?
In Europe, turtledoves face many threats both on land and in the air. However, turtle doves have keen instincts and are generally good at avoiding predators.
mammal
- fox
- cat
- badger
- Ferrets, ferrets, weasels and minks
- Squirrel (chicken only)
birds
- owl
- Eagles, especially sparrowhawks and peregrine falcons
- seagull
- crows; jays, crows, and magpies
A pair of common wood pigeons perched together on a tree
How big was the oldest wood pigeon?
The oldest wood pigeon was 17 years and 9 months old and was found in the Orkney Islands.
How long can a turtledove live without food?
Turtle doves are very fussy feeders and will eat almost any scraps you leave them, although they mainly eat grains and seeds.
Pigeons have large crops, which are specialized digestive “bags” used to store excess food for later digestion and feeding to the chicks. Thanks to this harvest, wood pigeons can go days without a big meal, provided they are really full beforehand. Wood pigeon crops hold approximately 80ml or 3oz of food – enough for several meals!
A large flock of wood pigeons in winter
How do turtledoves survive the winter?
Although turtledoves migrate from Russia, Scandinavia and Iceland in winter, they are year-round residents of the UK and much of Central and Western Europe.
Wood pigeons are plump, sturdy birds with a decent layer of blubber and thick plumage that can puff up in winter. They retreat to shelter in winter but tolerate cold temperatures well.
Are wood pigeons protected?
Turtle doves are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, but some people, such as farmers, can legally kill them in certain circumstances.
The laws around shooting pigeons and other wildlife in the UK are complex. Farmers and other specified individuals are permitted to kill pigeons and other birds that directly affect their livestock, crops or livelihoods. However, this “general license” was revoked in 2019 following legal challenges. General permits resumed in 2022, and turtledoves can now be legally killed by specific individuals if they pose a disease risk to livestock or damage crops.
To complicate matters further, wood pigeons were recently placed on the Amber List of “Birds of Concern” because their numbers have declined for the first time in a while.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
