Species Use Database

European Turtle Dove
Streptopelia turtur

Used for Recreation in Europe, France, Greece, Italy and Spain

A. Species

Scientific name: Streptopelia turtur

Common name(s): European Turtle Dove

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status: Vulnerable


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Europe
  • France
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • Spain

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: Sub-national / Sub-region / Sub-State

Name/Details of location: Mediterranean countries in Europe (e.g., Spain, France, Italy, Greece)


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2014

End Year: 2015


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Hunting and/or Trapping of live terrestrial and aerial animals

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Recreation

Motivation of use: Recreational

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law and Some use is legal and some is illegal


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people, Non-local External and National / local private sector


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable

Details of assessment carried out: The study assesses the impact of hunting on the population dynamics of the European Turtle Dove, considering factors such as hunting bag figures and population trends.

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The use is considered unsustainable due to significant population declines attributed to hunting pressure, habitat loss, and changes in agricultural practices.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The study indicates that hunting pressures, combined with habitat loss, adversely affect the species' health and welfare. The use is judged to be unsustainable from an animal welfare perspective due to the significant decline in population and adverse effects on the species' health.


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species

Implement stricter hunting regulations, enhance habitat conservation efforts, and conduct further research to monitor population trends and impacts.


Record source

Information about the record source: scientific_pub

Date of publication/issue/production:

Source Reference(s):

Hirschfeld, A., Attard, G., & Scott, L. (2019). Bird hunting in Europe: An analysis of bag figures and the potential impact on the conservation of threatened species. British Birds, 112(3), 153-166.

Date of record entry: 2024-07-19