Dove (Mourning)

Abundant and widespread, the Mourning Dove is well known throughout most of North America and mate for life, if one dies the other lives alone forever, thereafter.

Its mournful call is heard from deserts to forest edges, from farmlands to inner cities. Male and female mourning doves look similar with greyish-brown backs, buff-coloured undersides, black spots on the wings and behind the eye, and white feathers in the tail, which show during flight.

Juveniles can be distinguished from adults by light buffing on the tips of the primary feathers, which persist until the first molt. By the age of 3 months, it is difficult for the casual observer to distinguish the difference between young and adult doves.

 photographed in the wild in Naples, FL and Etobicoke, ON