Bird of the Week - Vl October 25th, 2010
This week's "Bird of the Week" is the Mourning dove. Believe it or not, the Mourning dove is one of the 10 most abundant birds in North America. This medium sized, pigeon like bird is about 9 - 13 inches long with a wing span of approximately 15 - 18 inches. It has a small head with a long pointed tail and a light grayish-brown body. There are black spots on its wings. The sexes similar in appearances, but the males are slightly larger and slightly more colorful, with a bluish crown and pink chest.
Mourning doves feed mostly on ground, especially on relatively bare ground, where they eat seeds. Mourning doves usually feed in pairs or flocks.
In many states in the country, the Mourning dove is a game bird, meaning that it can be legally hunted.
To hear a two minute radio program about the Mourning dove, click here and then click on Play MP3
Photo taken from All About Birds
1 comment:
Few people know that Mourning Doves often nest on the ground in dense beach grass in coastal New England. As a Piping Plover monitor in Massachusetts I often discovered their eggs and young while searching for Piping Plovers.
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