Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Mourning Dove

This is the first Mourning Dove I have seen this Spring.The Mourning Dove is about 12 inches in length, and weighs an average of 4 to 6 ounces. Mourning Doves have perching feet, with three toes forward and one reversed. The legs are short and reddish colored. I had forgotten how red the legs are.

FUN FACT: The Mourning Dove is monogamous and forms strong pair bonds. Mourning Doves often mate for life. If one is killed, the breeding pair is lost.

6 comments:

Marsha said...

I saw my first one yesterday too! Can that mean spring is here to stay :) I have lots of snow in the garden but in the bare spots the tulips are up 2 inches - they must be growing under the snow.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

We seem to have doves year round here. I love watching them in the garden. They're my "chickens." They often sleep on the mulch.

Ms. Bake-it said...

I have a lot of Mourning Doves year round. I love to hear them in the morning when I am getting ready for work.

~ Tracy

Becca's Dirt said...

The Mourning Doves are so pretty. Isn't it neat that they mate for life. Have a good day.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for giving the name of this cute little bird is. This whole time I thought they were partridges. My mom and stepdad have these in their backyard all the time.

Thanks again!

Kerri Farley said...

A Lovely dove!!