Monday, May 6, 2013

Mourning Dove

Here is the current dove nesting in our blue spruce in the back yard.  She sits so nice on her nest.
They are up to 12 inches long.  They are a smooth, fawn colored dove with black spots on their wings and tail.  They have a single black spot below their eye.   

As you can see here, they have a pointed wedge-shaped tail with white edges.   The male has gray patch on head, and iridescent pink and green around the neck.  The females do not have the iridescence.   Their nests are not very high in a tree.  The female and male build it.  She has 2 broods a year. They move around to find food. They will come to feeders.
My bird book says they tend to mate for life, about 7 to 10 years. They do feed on the ground.  Their head bobs while they are walking.
Their name comes from their cooing sound.  It is soft and mournful.

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