mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 10.5 inches

• Sexes similar

• Medium-sized, somewhat slender dove with very thin neck

• Black bill

Adult:

• Pale buff-brown head, neck, breast, and belly

• Purple and green iridescence on neck

• small black mark on lower neck

• Medium brown back and upperwings, with large black spots on coverts

• Long tail is pointed at tip

• Dark brown tail with white tips to outer four tail feathers

Juvenile:

• Dark brown mottled head neck and breast

• Scaly neck and upperwings with numerous black spots on coverts and scapulars

• Pale belly

• Medium length tail is pointed at tip

Similar species:

Long pointed tail is distinctive for adults, while black spotting on coverts
and pale color help distinguish it from white-winged and white-tipped
doves. Juvenile is easily confused with common ground-dove and Inca
dove, but is longer necked, shows a pointed tail with more white at edges
and lacks cinnamon in primaries.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: Short distance migrant
Breeding Habitat: Urban
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 2
Length of Incubation: 13-14 days
Days to Fledge: 12-14
Number of Broods: 2-3, occasionally 3-6
Diet: Almost exclusively seeds

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May C
      Su - Summer: June, July, August C
      Fall: September, October, November C

      Winter: December, January, February C

 

 

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