FAMILY CoJumbidce 



Pacific Slope where it may be seen by twos 

 and threes, or in small flocks, feeding in the 

 grain fields and pastures, or gleaning the 

 scattered grain in the stubblefields in the fall, 

 its bobbing head and dainty step making an 

 attractive picture. It may be easily dis- 

 tinguished at sight from the band-tailed 

 pigeon by its smaller size, wedge-shaped tail 

 and rapid whistling flight. The mourning 

 dove is far more common in the southern 

 parts of its range where it may be seen in 

 flocks of hundreds in the central valleys of 

 California or about the large ranches of eastern 

 Washington and Oregon. 



Its nest is a frail structure made of tw^igs, 

 placed indifferently in trees, bushes or on the 

 ground; and is often placed on the top of rail 

 fences, posts and stumps. When the eggs 

 are laid on the ground they are usually placed 

 in any slight depression with only a few bits 

 of dry grass for lining. Its mournful note is 

 a coo, TOO, 00, 00, oo. 



Pigeons are almost always monogamous 

 and their devotion to each other is well known. 

 They may often be seen sitting side by side 

 on the cross arm of a telephone pole along 

 country roads and are rarely found alone at 

 any time. Both parents take turns in 

 incubation and in feeding the young. 

 140 



