EXPERTS say they are delighted and surprised after turtle doves set up home in North Yorkshire.

The birds, usually found near farm land, are on the Red List for conservation concern, but have been recorded in Dalby Forest, near Pickering.

Forestry Commission rangers and volunteers from the North Yorkshire Forest Bird Study Group are now to check on them, with the first survey of the species, to guage how many birds are nesting and what they are feeding on.

Mick Carroll of Pickering, from the North Yorkshire Forest Bird Study Group, said: “We are hearing the bird's lovely purring song more and more in the woods. And not just on the forest edge, but in the middle of big forests like Dalby where you would not expect to find them.

“Nightjars, a nocturnal ground nesting bird, made a similar switch from heathland to forest clear fell areas so we know that birds can be very adaptable. It’s all very intriguing and this survey will hopefully shed light on what is going on.”

Brian Hicks, Forestry Commission Ecologist, added: “Despite featuring in the Christmas carol, the Turtle Dove is a migratory species and spends winter in warmer climes. That means the survey has to be done now. Our public forests offer important habitats for wildlife thanks to sensitive management and on-going work done by our rangers and volunteer conservationists.”

The turtle dove is smaller and darker than the collared dove and slightly larger than a blackbird. It is thought it may be feeding on seed from wheat growing along forest roads and rides.