152 



DOVES. 



Q , A, c, 1 



Canada soutli to Panama ; not common on the Bahamas ; lo- 

 cal in distribution. Social but not dur- 

 ing the breeding season and never con- 

 gregating in very large flocks. Breeds 

 in late June. Flight, Kwift and direct 

 and when rising the wings produce a 

 whistling sound. Note, a mournful 

 double coo. Feeds on the ground, but 

 a flock will often sit together side by 

 side on the branches of a tree, 

 d. Short-tailed Doves. Zeuaida. 

 Rather compactly formed, medium 

 sized doves with short rounded tails. 



1. ZENAIDA DOVE, Z. zenaida. 

 11.00; yellowish-red above overwashed 

 with ashy ; a narrow white wing-band ; 

 beneath and on sides of head and neck, reddish-brown be- 

 coming bluish on sides, flanks and under tail coverts; small 

 bluish-black spot behind eye and a larger one on side of neck 

 where there is an iridescent patch of purple and green. Com- 

 mon on the Bahamas and in some of the West Indies ; rare on 

 the Fla. Keys. Not at all social, rarely, if ever occurring 

 even in small flocks; lives most of the time on the ground. 

 The coo consists of two notes, the first uttered with a falling 

 inflection, the second follows quickly, but is not as prolonged, 

 then " W/io, who, -wlio'''' with a decided pause between the 

 first two ; all are loud, but in a minor key. 



e. Little Doves. Columbig^alliiia. 

 Very small doves with short tails and slender bills that 

 live mostly on the ground. 



1. GROUND DOVE, C. passerina. 7.00 ; brownish-ash 

 above with inner portion of wings spotted with black having 

 a violet iridescence; under portion of wing, showing in flight, 

 chestnut; beneath, purplish-red with breast obscurely spot- 

 ted with dusky; bill, orange black at tip, fig. 186. Female, 

 somewhat duller. South Atlantic and Gulf States. Note, a 

 loud " Who'^ often repeated, always in a minor tone. Ordina- 



