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Zenaida macroura
The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized, slender dove approximately 31 cm (12 in) in length. Mourning Doves weigh 4-6 ounces, usually closer to 4.5 ounces. The elliptical wings are broad, and the head is rounded. Its tail is long and tapered ("macroura" comes from the Greek words for "large" and "tail"). Mourning Doves have perching feet, with three toes forward and one reversed. The legs are short and reddish colored. The beak is short and dark, usually a brown-black hue. The plumage is generally light gray-brown and lighter and pinkish below. The wings have black spotting, and the outer tail feathers are white, contrasting with the black inners. Below the eye is a distinctive crescent-shaped area of dark feathers. The eyes are dark, with light skin surrounding them. The adult male has bright purple-pink patches on the neck sides, with light pink coloring reaching the breast. The crown of the adult male is a distinctly bluish-grey color. Females are similar in appearance, but with more brown coloring overall. The iridescent feather patches on the neck above the shoulders are nearly absent, but can be quite vivid on males. Juvenile birds have a scaly appearance, and are generally darker.
The Mourning Dove occupies a wide variety of open and semi-open habitats, such as urban areas, farms, prairie, grassland, and lightly wooded areas. It avoids swamps and thick forest. The species has adapted well to areas altered by humans. It commonly nests in trees in cities or near farmsteads.
2 fledgling doves with one of their parents
Spotted on Apr 11, 2011
Submitted on Jan 5, 2012
3 Comments
We have another problem re: common names here when it comes to birds. There's a monumental, extremely comprehensive tome on the Birds of Southern Africa; a world class book but in their latest edition they have attempted to rationalize common names which offends me greatly. Taxonomists can play around with scientific names all they want but as far as I'm concerned Common names are "wot common people calls em" and should be collected not prescribed.
I'm a zookeeper so scientific names are incredibly important to me, especially when speaking with general public. The example I like to give people when it comes up is with turtles. A common name for the alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) among older people in my state is "loggerhead." Well, to a reptile person a loggerhead is a sea turtle (Caretta caretta); a MUCH different animal! :-)
Your lovely photo prompts me to comment on the importance of scientific names as we also have a Mourning Dove in southern africa but it is Streptopelia decipiens, a biggish fellow with a neckband, grey head,yellow eye and red eye-ring.