Visitors to my feeders every now and then. Always arriving in pairs. The Mourning Dove (Zenáida macroúra).
For a while my granddaughter’s favorite bird, I think in part because of the soft coo-oo that the male makes. Good for her that she knows a bird call at the age of 6. I doubt I knew any at that age. Still at THIS age I know very few.
Another sound associated with these Doves is the fluttering sound the feathers of the wings make as the bird takes flight and lands. And that flight is impressive, up to 55 miles an hour.
These Doves generally mate for life and when they have a brood it usually consists of two squabs (young). In warmer areas they might have as many as six broods per year. Whew!
The Mourning Dove is a ground feeder and its diet is almost entirely seed. They’re part of my little community of birds here at Snow Mountain Observatory and Frog Farm.