How much does a turtle dove cost? Latest market price trends

The turtle dove is a bird of Europe and North Africa belonging to the genus Streptopelia in the family Columbidae. It has a pale reddish-brown body, a blue-gray head, and a white tip to its tail. It forages on the ground, eating large quantities of small seeds and earthworms. Common species in China include the red turtle dove, the spotted dove, the oriental turtle dove, and the artificially bred white turtle dove. Let's take a look below at how much a turtle dove costs!

How much does a turtle dove cost?

There are many kinds of turtle doves, and prices vary. Setting aside rare species such as the green pigeon and the imperial pigeon, common wild turtle doves such as the oriental turtle dove and the spotted dove generally sell for anywhere from a dozen to several dozen yuan, and most of these are illegally hunted and illegally sold. Artificially bred white turtle doves, commonly known as magic pigeons, are more expensive, generally over a hundred yuan, and trained magic pigeons can sometimes cost several hundred to over a thousand yuan from sellers. For artificially bred hybrid turtle doves, it depends on the specific feather color and quality, and rare ones also command high prices.

Are turtle doves protected animals?

Wild turtle doves belong to the general category of protected animals, and their sale is not permitted. Wild turtle doves are "three-have" protected animals, meaning terrestrial wildlife that is beneficial, or has important economic or scientific research value, and is protected by the state. Protected turtle doves in the same group include the European turtle dove, the oriental turtle dove, the Eurasian collared dove, the spotted dove, the laughing dove, and the red turtle dove.

Is it illegal to shoot turtle doves?

Shooting turtle doves is illegal. Turtle doves are protected wild animals, and exceeding a certain number can result in a prison sentence. The state now regulates the hunting of wild animals very strictly. According to legal provisions, hunting wild animals using prohibited tools or methods, with a number reaching 20 or more, constitutes illegal hunting.

Where are turtle doves distributed?

Turtle doves are widely distributed across the temperate and tropical regions of the Old World, with wild populations in the New World in California and Florida. There are about 15 species, distributed across Africa, Europe, and Asia. China has 5 to 6 species, found in almost every province and region. Turtle doves inhabit forest areas in mountains, foothills, or plains, mainly active in small groups of several birds along forest edges, farmland, and nearby areas. They build their nests in trees, generally 3 to 7 m above the ground, made of twigs with a simple structure in the shape of a flat disk, and lay 2 eggs per clutch.