Easton's Bible Dictionary Turtle-dove Its peculiar peaceful and gentle habit its often referred to in Scripture. A pair was offered in sacrifice by Mary at her purification (Luke 2:24). The pigeon and the turtle-dove were the only birds permitted to be offered in sacrifice (Leviticus 1:14; 5:7; 14:22; 15:14, 29, etc.). The Latin name of this bird, turtur, is derived from its note, and is a repetition of the Hebrew name tor. Three species are found in Palestine, (1) the turtle-dove (Turtur auritus), (2) the collared turtle (T. risorius), and (3) the palm turtle (T. Senegalensis). But it is to the first of these species which the various passages of Scripture refer. It is a migratory bird (Jeremiah 8:7; Cant. 2:11, 12). "Search the glades and valleys, even by sultry Jordan, at the end of March, and not a turtle-dove is to be seen. Return in the second week of April, and clouds of doves are feeding on the clovers of the plain. They overspread the whole face of the land." "Immediately on its arrival it pours forth from every garden, grove, and wooded hill its melancholy yet soothing ditty unceasingly from early dawn till sunset. It is from its plaintive and continuous note, doubtless, that David, pouring forth his heart's sorrow to God, compares himself to a turtle-dove" (Psalm 74:19). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia TURTLE-DOVE tur'-t'-l-duv. See DOVE.

Multi-Version Concordance Turtle-dove (5 Occurrences) Genesis 15:9 And he said unto him, Take me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon. (See JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT) Leviticus 12:6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest: (See JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT) Psalms 74:19 Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: Forget not the life of thy poor for ever. (See JPS ASV DBY YLT) Song of Songs 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing 'of birds' is come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land; (ASV DBY) Jeremiah 8:7 Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Jehovah. (ASV DBY)