Turtle doves are not turtles

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Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; [kjv]

τα ανθη ωφθη εν τη γη καιρος της τομης εφθακεν φωνη του τρυγονος ηκουσθη εν τη γη ημων [lxx]

flores apparuerunt … tempus putationis advenit … turturis audita … terra nostra [v]

What sound does a "turtle" make? A "turtle dove" is a type of bird called a "dove" or "pigeon". The Latin word "turturum" ≈ "turtle doves" comes from the onomatopoeic words "tur, tur" as the sound made by these birds.

The Latin word "turtla" ≈ "male turtle dove".
The Latin word "turtle" ≈ "female turtle dove".

The word "turtle" was influenced by "turtle dove" but the two creatures are quite different.

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Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; [kjv]

τα ανθη ωφθη εν τη γη καιρος της τομης εφθακεν φωνη του τρυγονος ηκουσθη εν τη γη ημων [lxx]

… Blumen … hervorkommen … Lande… Lenz … herbeikommen… Turteltaube … hören … Lande… [lu]

The Luther German uses the word "Lenz" for "spring" which is related to the word "Lent" as the time before Easter when the daylight hours of each day are lengthening. [Hebrew parallelism]
What are you giving up for Lent?

More: Ash Wednesday and Lent (and more) from the Bible

Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; [kjv]

τα ανθη ωφθη εν τη γη καιρος της τομης εφθακεν φωνη του τρυγονος ηκουσθη εν τη γη ημων [lxx]

flores apparuerunt … tempus putationis advenit … turturis audita … terra nostra [v]

Flouris apperiden … tyme … schridyng … vois … turtle … herd … lond, [wy]

… Blumen … hervorkommen … Lande… Lenz … herbeikommen… Turteltaube … hören … Lande… [lu]

From the LXX (Septuagint), the "turtle" is a "turtle dove" or "turtle pigeon" that makes the sound "tur, tur" as in "turtle".

Song of Solomon 2:12

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KJV: The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

Hebrew: הנצנים נראו בארץ עת הזמיר הגיע וקול התור נשמע בארצנו׃

Greek: τα ανθη ωφθη εν τη γη καιρος της τομης εφθακεν φωνη του τρυγονος ηκουσθη εν τη γη ημων

Latin: flores apparuerunt in terra tempus putationis advenit vox turturis audita est in terra nostra

Wycliffe: Flouris apperiden in oure lond, the tyme of schridyng is comun; the vois of a turtle is herd in oure lond,

Luther: die Blumen sind hervorkommen im Lande, der Lenz ist herbeikommen, und die Turteltaube läßt sich hören in unserm Lande;

In Luke, Mary and Joseph can offer "turtle doves" or "pigeons". English has two words for this bird. Most languages, including Greek, have only one. The name "turtle dove" comes from the "tur tur" sound made by the bird.

Luke 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. [kjv]

και του δουναι θυσιαν κατα το ειρημενον εν τω νομω κυριου ζευγος τρυγονων η δυο νοσσους περιστερων [gnt]

… turtlan… culfran briddes. [wes]

… turturis… culuer briddis. [wy]

The Old English Wessex Gospels and Wycliffe use the term "briddis" which appears, in part, to be the origin of the English word "bride" as a "young pigeon".

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Luke 2:24

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KJV: And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Greek: και του δουναι θυσιαν κατα το ειρημενον εν τω νομω κυριου ζευγος τρυγονων η δυο νεοσσους νοσσους περιστερων

Latin: et ut darent hostiam secundum quod dictum est in lege Domini par turturum aut duos pullos columbarum

Wessex: & þaet hyo offrunge sealden. aefter þan þe drihtnes laege ge-cweðen is. twa turtlan. oððe twa culfran briddes.

Wycliffe: aftir that it is seid in the lawe of the Lord, A peire of turturis, or twei culuer briddis.

Tyndale: and to offer (as it ys sayde in the lawe of the Lorde) a payre of turtle doves or two yonge pigions.

Luther: und daß sie gäben das Opfer, nachdem gesagt ist im Gesetz des Herrn, ein Paar Turteltauben oder zwo junge Tauben.

The modern Greek word "τρύγονων" (TREE-go-non) ≈ "turtle doves" and the modern Greek word "περιστέρων" (peh-ree-STEH-ron) ≈ "pigeon".

From the Luther German, the German word "Turtletauben" ≈ "turtle dove" and the German word "Taube" ≈ "pigeon, dove" shows how dove and pigeon are related. Most languages, except English, have one word for the bird. English has two - dove and pigeon.