Family:
The mourning dove is a small, slender bird with a long, tapered tail and short legs. Males have soft grey-brown upperparts and lighter underparts with a peachy-pink wash on the breast. Their upper wings are marked with a few dark spots, and the tail feathers have white tips. The crown of the head has a pale blue tint, and purple patches on the sides of the neck. The eyes are dark, surrounded by light blue skin, with a subtle dark crescent of feathers below. The bill is dark, and the legs are red.
Females are similar in appearance but are generally browner overall and lack the purple neck patches.
Mourning doves are known for their distinctive cooing call, which males use to attract mates.
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Mourning doves primarily feed on seeds, such as rapeseed, corn, millet, and sunflower seeds, which make up about 80% of their diet. They also consume small insects and snails. They forage on the ground, pushing aside leaf litter to uncover seeds hidden beneath.
Mourning doves are widely distributed across southern Canada, the United States, most of Mexico, and the Greater Antilles. They are found in open habitats, including prairies, grasslands, and farmland, as well as in parks and gardens. They are often spotted perched on overhead wires.
