Mourning Dove Asleep in Snowfall is a painting by J McCombie which was uploaded on January 7th, 2014.
Mourning Dove Asleep in Snowfall
This Mourning Dove is enjoying a nap in the maple tree as the winter's snow falls gently around it.
The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a... more
by J McCombie
Title
Mourning Dove Asleep in Snowfall
Artist
J McCombie
Medium
Painting - Photographic
Description
This Mourning Dove is enjoying a nap in the maple tree as the winter's snow falls gently around it.
The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family (Columbidae). The bird is also called the Turtle Dove or the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also the leading gamebird, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years) 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. Their soft, drawn-out calls sound like laments. Its plaintive woo-OO-oo-oo-oo call gives the bird its name. The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing. Its flight is fast on powerful wingbeats and bullet straight, sometimes making sudden ascents, descents, and dodges, their pointed tails stretching behind them. 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. Theyre delicate brown to buffy-tan overall, with black spots on the wings and black-bordered white tips to the tail feathers. Plump-bodied and long-tailed, with short legs, small bill, and a head that looks particularly small in comparison to the body. 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.
You can see Mourning Doves nearly anywhere except the deep woods. Look for them in fields or patches of bare ground where they forage for seeds, or on overhead perches like telephone wires.
Uploaded
January 7th, 2014
