The Mourning Dove. My question is how do they tell each other apart? I can just hear one of them now: "Honey, is that you? Oh, sorry, I thought you were...."
Here are some fun facts I didn't know about these creatures. (They've always seemed a bit dumb to me, lumbering around the yard, but since I read this, I have a new respect for them):
The Mourning Dove is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also the leading game bird, with up to 70 million birds shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and for meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure stems from its prolific breeding: in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods a year. Its plaintive woo-oo-oo-oo call gives the bird its name. The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing, and the bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph). Mourning Doves are light grey and brown and generally muted in color. Males and females are similar in appearance. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents incubate and care for the young. Mourning Doves eat almost exclusively seeds, but the young are fed crop milk by their parents. (from Wikipedia)
Did you learn something? Good. Now go and have a happy weekend!
