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Mourning Dove

(Zenaidura macroura)

Photo: Ron Austing

Size             : 12 inches long

Description      : Male   - Soft gray-brown with darker accents on wings and tail
                   Female - Same as male

Preferred Habitat: Open woodland, agricultural, and residential areas

Preferred food   : Seeds, grains. Particularly fond of millet and nyjer.

Breeding Range   : Southern Canada, all of mainland United States, south to the Bahamas nad Mexico 

Winter Range     : Same as breeding range, plus Central America

Interesting Facts: In some areas is classified as a songbird, and is, therefore, protected. 
                   In other areas, it is considered a game bird.
                   Its sad 'cooo, cooo, cooo', gives the bird its name.
                   The mourning dove mates for life.
                   When courting, the male performs the 'tower dance': it flies to a height of 
                   about 30 feet and flutters, descends a little and flutters again, and again, and again.
                   Sometimes the male flies in a circle above its mate, spreading its tail, calling, 
		   closing the tail, waiting and repeating the entire procedure again.
                   Their preferred nesting site is a horizontal branch of a conifer, 10 - 30 feet 
                   above ground.
                   Devoted parents.
                   Male broods young 8 hours a day, the female, the rest of the time.
                   Young are hatched blind, naked, and helpless, but fledge in 13-14 days.
                   Both parents feed their young pigeon's milk: they close their beaks on those of the
                   young and pump the secretion into them for about 60 seconds at a time. Later, they
                   feed worms, insects, and seeds.