Primary moult of European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur in northern Senegal

ABSTRACT We used tabulated data from the literature, collected in northern Senegal, to estimate the parameters of moult of the European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur, a ‘Vulnerable’ species. Moult duration was 177 days, and the estimated average start and end dates were 16 August and 9 February respectively. The results of the moult analysis were compatible with independent studies of migration and residency; coordinated long-term monitoring of the components of the annual cycle would help an understanding of the conservation needs of this species. The European Turtle Dove is the most migratory member of the order Columbiformes; a comparison with three other members of the order, using the Underhill–Zucchini moult model, shows that moult duration of the European Turtle Dove is the shortest, but only by a small margin.