It is a symbol of love and endangered - environmentalists have voted the Turtle Dove the "Bird of the Year 2020". For the first time a bird had been named, which stands as global endangered kind on the world-wide red list, communicated the nature protection federation (Nabu) and the Bavarian federal federation for bird protection (LBV).
Nabu board member Heinz Kowalski said with a view to Germany: "Since 1980, we have lost almost 90 percent of this species, whole areas are turteltaubenfrei." Today, only 12,500 to 22,000 couples breed in this country. The animals owe their name to their characteristic sounds ("turr, turr"). The scientific name is "Streptopelia turtur".
Lovebirds are 26 to 28 centimeters tall - they are barely larger than a blackbird. Females and males do not differ externally. The weight of the birds is 100 to 180 grams. The animals have to drink daily and eat exclusively vegan.
The turtledove belongs to the migratory birds. She is leaving Europe at the end of July to spend the winter in the Sahara. It also occurs in China and Afghanistan. The bible since Bible times as a symbol of being in love.
