Brown dove?

[shivvy]

I have just seen a dove in my garden but its feathers were very brown and not the usual grey-ish colour. I don't think it was a juvenile but I have never seen one so brown.
Is it unusual?

[cupid04]

could it be a turtle dove? I don't know how to send links, so you would have to google image.

[another-view]

http://www.haryana-on...20Dove%20-%20Aure.jpg

[LoftyLottie]

I would agree - turtle dove. I have only ever seen one in my garden and that was about 20 years ago. They are quite rare now, but still about.

[shivvy]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I looked up turtle doves but the one I saw in the garden wasn't as colourful or mottled as the pictures show. Also, I am in Northern Ireland and I don't think they are found here at all?!

[dustypuss]

It was probably a collared dove that just flew threw the Iceland volcanic ash cloud ;-)

[Milvus]

Turtle doves aren't seen in Ireland or Scotland at all, nor much in West Wales or Cornwall. In the rest of England they are pretty common but are an open land or woodland edge bird. Rarely do they come into gardens.
Your view in Ireland could be a young collared dove

[razza]

Had it got a long beak,if so possibly a woodcock.

[cupid04]

Hello Shivvy, sorry I was not much help. The juvenile birds are often as big as their
parents or bigger! This afternoon saw a juvenile magpie being fed by the adult
and they were roughly the same size! If you see it again perhaps you can take a
photograph.

[ABerrant]

For the past 9 months or so we've had a pair of brown (or slightly more of a brown than I would usually expect) Collared Doves making frequent visits to the bird table.

http://www.garden-bir...irds/collareddove.htm

[shivvy]

Thanks razza - I had a look at a pic of a woodcock but that wasn't it. My fella had plain feathers just like a dove (only darker)

I think it was prob a juvenile as Milvus and cupid suggest. Ah boo - I haven't discovered some weird, wonderful and rare species!

(I loved your answer though dustypuss!!)

Thanks all

[boxtops]

collared doves are a pretty pinky brown - is this it?
http://www.google.co....pHrAg&ved=0CDQQ9QEwBw

[wildwood]

It could also be one of those exotic doves that has escaped from an aviary.

[shivvy]

Thanks for your thoughts boxtops and wildwood.
It was def browner than your pic boxtops although I think it must have been a collared dove. Nothing too exotic about it - maybe dustypuss was right about the volcanic ash cloud!