BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



387 



■ej-es brown; feet red. Female: A little smaller and considerably duller 

 than the male. Young: Similar to female but grayer, and the black 

 spots wanting. 



Length 11-13 inches; extent 17-19; wing 5.7-6; tail 5.7-6.5; tarsus .8; 

 middle toe and claw 1 ; bill .6 ; weight 5-6 ounces. 



Field marks. This species has been mistaken for the Passenger pigeon 

 on numberless occasions and it is well for the observer to note his bird 

 carcfulh' to avoid being in error. The Mourning dove is much smaller than 

 the wild pigeon, but, when 

 no standard of comparison 

 is at hand, it often gives 

 the impression of being a 

 mrich larger bird than it 

 is. Its breast is much less 

 red than the pigeon's, it is 

 not so blue on the Ixick, 

 and it has the black spot 

 in the ear region which is 

 lacking in the pigeon. 



Distribution. The 

 Mouniing do^•e is fairh- 

 well distributed in all 

 j'larts of New Y( )rk, ex- 

 cepting the northern por- 

 tion and the Highlands 

 which are above 1000 feet in elevation, where it is rather uncommon. It 

 is occasionally found about the borders of the North Woods as at Lake 

 George, Old Forge, and Ausable Forks, but it is more characteristic of the 

 Carolinian, and the warmer portion of Transition zone, than of the cooler 

 districts. It is common in the coastal district, lower Hudson valley, and the 

 lowlands of western New York, arriving from the south early in March in 

 southeastern New York, and from the 20th to the 30th of March in the western 

 counties, and departs for the south late in October, or in November, but rarcly 

 Temains throtighout the winter months in the wanner portions of the State. 



PUuto by Guy .A, Bailey 

 Moumins dove. Zenaidura caroHnensis (Linnaeus) 



