- Lifespan
- 5–8 years in the wild; occasionally up to 15 years in captivity
- Size & Weight
- 40–42 cm long, wingspan 64–72 cm; 300–500 g
- Habitat
- Deciduous and mixed woodlands, parks, gardens, and farmland throughout the UK.
- UK Distribution
- Found year-round across the entire UK as a resident species; populations are boosted by continental migrants in autumn and winter.
- Diet
- Seeds from cereal crops, clover, and wild plants; also feeds on berries, leaves, and grain from agricultural areas.
- Predators
- Peregrine falcons, sparrowhawks, and occasionally goshawks; eggs and chicks taken by crows and magpies.
- Mating Season
- February to October, with peak breeding March to September
- Breeding
- Clutch of 2 white eggs; incubation period 17–19 days; typically 2–3 broods per year; both sexes incubate and feed chicks.
- Behaviour
- Highly social and often seen in flocks, especially in winter. Males perform distinctive bowing and cooing displays during courtship. Notable for their loud, repetitive 'coo-coo-coo, coo-coo' call, particularly audible in spring.