![]() Mated Mourning Dove pairs form a strong bond that lasts the entire breeding season, and sometimes for life.Īfter pairing up, the male dove leads the female to potential nest sites in open habitats with scattered vegetation. After landing, the male struts before the female dove with a puffed-out breast and bobbing head. During the wide spirals, the streamlined and fixed-winged male can be mistaken for a small accipiter or falcon. When courting, a male Mourning Dove begins with a noisy takeoff, followed by a graceful, widely spiraling aerial display over the female. Mourning Dove on nest by YegoroV/Shutterstock Milk-making Birds Other birds must drink water by filling their bill with the liquid, then tilting their heads back, relying upon gravity to deliver water to swallow. The Mourning Dove, along with other pigeons and doves, is among the few birds that can drink using suction. An abundance of food provided by humans may have helped the doves expand its range north. Like the Tufted Titmouse and Black-capped Chickadee, Mourning Doves are frequent visitors to backyard feeders, especially during the winter months. Most of the Mourning Dove's diet consists of grass, grain, and weed seeds. through southern Mexico.įive subspecies of Mourning Dove are recognized, based on plumage variation, wing length, and bill and foot size. ![]() Northern populations tend to be migratory, wintering from the northern U.S. There are regular sightings in parts of northern Canada and southeastern Alaska as well, but breeding is scarce that far north. ![]() states and Mexico to Panama, and also occurs in the West Indies. Accessible at This widely distributed dove breeds from southern Canada south through the lower 48 U.S. Accessible at Mourning Dove Wing-whistle by David Darrell-Lambert, XC476933. (Audio: Mourning Dove call by Jim Berry, XC407859. These sounds are also associated with the dove's courtship displays. The dove's take-off and landing whistles serve as an alarm signal, warning other birds of potential dangers nearby. As with the American Woodcock and Wilson's Snipe, air rushing through wing feathers produces these sounds. Those unfamiliar with this plaintive, hooting vocalization often think they are hearing a Great Horned Owl or other owl species.Īn interesting non-vocal sound of the Mourning Dove is the loud “whistle” made by its wings as it takes off and lands. The Mourning Dove's soft call, which gives the bird its name, is a sad-sounding cooOOoo-woo-woo-woooo. In fact, its species name macroura, from Greek, means “long tail.” Hoots and Whistles The Mourning Dove is so distinctive that it can even be identified by silhouette, both perched and in flight: slim, long-winged, and small-headed, with a long, graduated tail. Unlike the familiar Rock Pigeon, this member of the pigeon and dove family is native, as was the extinct Passenger Pigeon. A ring of vivid blue skin encircles its large, dark eye. ![]() The handsome Mourning Dove is a familiar sight to most people - beige-brown above and pinkish-brown below, with black spots on its wings and an iridescent pink-and-blue flash on its neck. ![]()
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