Bird of many names...

Photos by BarrytheBirder

MOURNING DOVE

Zenaida macroura

One of my favourite backyard birds is the Mourning Dove.  They are attractive, make the most pleasant cooing sounds and get along well with most of the other backyard birds.  Mourning Doves also have other names, such as: American Mourning Dove, rain dove, turtle dove (erroneously), Carolina Pigeon, Carolina Turtledove and Sicorro Dove (also erroneously).   Although the Mourning Dove pictured above is sitting on the edge of one of our mixed birdseed feeders, they normally sit on the ground (see photo below) beneath the five feeders where the  American Goldfinches are eating but also spilling very  expensive Niger seed ... or is that Nyjer seed?   Don't get me started on that silly seed spelling debate.   Apparently there are about 475 million Mourning Doves in North America.   They are prolific breeders, which is good because the they have a high mortality rate for both adults (58%) and young (69%).   If they can get past the first year, they will probably last for another four or five.

Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder