Nesting parameters of Turtle Doves Streptopelia turtur arenicola breeding in Bahrain

摘要

The Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur arenicola(E Hartert, 1894)breeds from Morocco east to Tripoli, and from Iraq and Iran east through Afghanistan, Turkestan and Khirgiz steppes to northwest China(del Hoyo et al 1997). Within the Arabian peninsula it has been recorded breeding in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen in addition to Bahrain. It has not been recorded breeding in Qatar though suitable habitat exists there(Jennings 2010). Turtle Doves are widespread and common migrants throughout Arabia. They are thought to spend the winter in the Sahel and Ethiopia, returning north March-May to breed. Post breeding movements occur July-October and there is no evidence of wintering in Arabia(del Hoyo et al 1997, Beaman & Madge 1998, Jennings 2010).