European turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) are multicolored birds that live in Europe and the Eurasia regions of the world. These birds have gray heads, brown wings and pinkish plumage on their throats. When mature, European turtle doves grow up to nearly 10 inches; the wingspan of a European turtle dove ranges between 18 to 21 inches. These birds are omnivorous, meaning they eat meat and vegetation. Some items on the European turtle dove's diet are invertebrates, fungi, seeds, leaves and fruits. This bird is primarily arboreal -- a tree-dweller -- although it will periodically descend to the ground for food.
During the late spring and summer months, European turtle doves live in countries throughout Europe. This bird's range extends northward into the United Kingdom, Ireland, Scandinavia and Western Europe. A European turtle dove's eastern range includes countries such as Russia, Mongolia and China. In the European wild, these birds live in forests and grassland habitats. However, these birds are not afraid to approach bird feeders in urban and rural households. While the IUCN considers the European turtle dove a "Least Concern" species, this bird is critically endangered in Finland.
Central Asia and North Africa serves as homes to the European turtle dove during the fall and winter months. These birds appear in African countries such as Algeria, Somalia, Senegal, Ethiopia and Morocco, while Yemen, Qatar, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel are some of the bird's native Central Asia residences. Some European turtle doves appear as far east as India for wintering. During their Central Asia and North Africa stints, European turtle doves dwell in dry, arid environments with bodies of water nearby. When they are wintering, European turtle doves are able to live at elevations of nearly 5,000 feet.
In recent history, European turtle doves were major carriers of the West Nile virus, according to the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse Biology Department. This virus originated in Uganda and spread into Eurasia and the Middle East due to the migration patterns of birds such as the European turtle dove. The University also states European turtle doves are the prime suspects for being carriers of this disease since they bring mosquitoes -- the main source of West Nile virus -- with them during their migration. Also, the outbreaks of West Nile virus in nations outside of Africa coincide with the flight patterns of the European turtle dove.