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BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Voice. — A plaintive call-note, prolonged in the breeding season into 

 a kind of trill. 



Chief Features. — A very beautiful bird, but of comparatively rare 

 occurrence. Belongs to the Plover family. 



Plumage. — Dull -white throat; bright chestnut, ash -brown, and 

 black on the breast and belly, and a white band on the lower 

 breast; dusky -black crown, margined with white, which 

 extends backwards from the eye round the nape; ash-brown 

 upper parts, and white-tipped tail-feathers and tail-coverts. 

 The female, contrary to most birds, is not only larger, but richer 

 coloured than her mate. Length. — Nine inches. 



DOVE, RING (Columba palumbus) 



Local Names. — Culver, Cushat, Cushat Doo, Luest, Luince, Oodal, 

 Queest, Quist, Ring-Dow, Ring Pigeon, Wood Lueest, Wood 

 Pigeon, Zuist. 



Haunt. — Woods, parks, and fields. 



Nesting Period. — An early and late breeder. March to July, often later. 



Site of Nest. — Trees or tall hedgerows. The matted branch of the 

 spruce fir is a favourite site. 



Materials Used. — Small dead twigs. A shallow platform, loosely made. 



Eggs. — Two. White, oval; size, 1.65 by 1.25 inch. 



Food. — Buds and leaves, grain, berries, fruit, young clover, turnip 

 tops, roots, and various weed seeds, especially charlock. 



Voice. — A series of five or six loud notes, often repeated. Louder 

 and harsher than those of the Turtle Dove. 



Chief Features. — A very common resident bird; its numbers are 

 largely increased by foreign visitors in Winter. A shy species ; 

 a splendid bird upon the wing. Drinks, unlike most other 

 birds, by taking a draught of water like a Horse. Feeds its 

 young by bringing back from its crop the soft portions of food 

 which it has swallowed. A typical woodland species. Much 

 better known as the Wood Pigeon. 



Plumage. — Bluish-grey head, violet and green on the sides and back 

 of neck, on each side being a patch of white; grey upper parts, 

 with broad edges of white on wing coverts which are very 

 conspicuous ; tail - feathers dark slaty - grey ; reddish - purple 

 underneath, paler on belly ; orange bill, whitish towards base ; 

 feet and legs bright red. Length. — Seventeen inches. 



DOVE, ROCK (Colamba livia) 



Local' Names. — Blue Dove, Doo, Rockier, Rockier, Rock Pigeon, 

 White-Backed Dove, Wild Dove, Wild Pigeon. 



Haunt. 



