When you search "Turtle-Dove" on eBird, seven species come up. There's the Mauritius, Rodrigues, European, Dusky, Adamawa, Oriental, and Malagasy. The first two are extinct, but most of the others are very widespread. And the Mourning Dove is colloquially called a Turtle-Dove, too.
European Turtle-Dove; Photo Source: eBird.com
Turtle-Doves symbolize love. In Song of Solomon, when it says "the voice of the turtle is heard in the land," it's referring to a Turtle-Dove, not a turtle. They are often in pairs, like in "The Twelve Days of Christmas." And surely part of the connection is that "love" and "dove" rhyme, see also lovey-dovey.
On the second day of Christmas, love
Gifts sweethearts with a Turtle-Dove.
A pair of birds is even better,
More loving and cozy than a sweater.
But birds are best when they are free,
So to show love, just let them be.
©Ruth Bowen Hersey
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