Answer: turtledove

AnswerCrossword Clue
TURTLEDOVEAffectionate person.
turtledoveA small Old World dove with a soft purring call, noted for the apparent affection shown for its mate
turtledovea bird of the dove family
TURTLEDOVEBird in a holiday song
TURTLEDOVEReptilian pacifist?
TURTLEDOVEAffectionate bird
TURTLEDOVEFrench hen preceder
TURTLEDOVESweetheart
TURTLEDOVEChristmas-song creature
TURTLEDOVESweetheart, to W. C. Fields
TURTLEDOVEAnimal twofer?
TURTLEDOVESoft-cooing bird
TURTLEDOVETerm of endearment
TURTLEDOVECooing bird
TURTLEDOVEChristmas gift of song
TURTLEDOVEBird between the partridge and French hen
TURTLEDOVEDarling
TURTLEDOVEOne of two in a Christmas song
TURTLEDOVEOne of two in "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
TURTLEDOVEThis animal presumably spends its entire life in a shell ... correction: just the first part of its life