The turtle dove is the UKs most rapidly declining farmland bird, losing over 98% of its breeding population since the 1960s, with food supply collapse and hunting pressure during migration the primary drivers.
Turtle dove welfare must be considered across the entire migratory range — from UK breeding grounds through Mediterranean migration routes to African wintering sites. Legal shooting of turtle doves in countries including France, Portugal and Cyprus kills millions of birds during migration. The welfare harm to birds that have bred successfully in the UK and are then shot during migration is significant, and makes UK conservation efforts less effective. Food supply collapse in the UK means that remaining birds experience nutritional stress during breeding. Cross-border conservation and welfare advocacy — including negotiation to reduce legal hunting quotas during migration — is essential for turtle dove recovery.