Mourning Dove

Male

Female

The Mourning Dove is a member of the pigeon family that can be found all across the Americas except for Northern Canada. Because they are such a populous species, they are frequently used as game for hunters and are a low concern bird in regards to protection. Because they are so common in the U.S, you have most likely heard its call which sounds like a mournful sob. To hear this iconic song visit https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/media-browser-overview/479700 They are mainly different shades of grey with black dots on their neck and long tails. they are also sexually Dimorphic which means there are differences in the male and females appearance, males are typically the bigger of the two and have a pinkish tint on their necks, while females are shades of grey all throughout. Mourning Doves are perching birds because they are able to dive very fast from wherever they are perched to the ground to get food. They eat mostly different types of grain and seeds but when food is sparse, they do eat small insects. Mourning doves are able to greatly expand their crop which means they are are able to gather a lot of food before returning back to a tree to digest it, this helps because Mourning Doves are very active and fast flyers which means they need to consume a lot of food.