BIRDS OF NEW YORK 



387 



eyes brown; feet red. Female: A little smaller and considerably duller 

 tiaan 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 i; 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 



carefully 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 inipression of being a 



much larger bird than it 



is. Its breast is much less 



red than the pigeon's, it is 



not so blue on the back, 



and it has the black spot 



in the ear region which is 



lacking in the pigeon. 



Distribution. The 

 Mourning dove is fairly 

 well distributed in all 

 parts of New York, 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 rarely 

 remains throughout the winter months in the warmer portions of the State. 



Mourning dove. 



Photo by Guy A. Bailey 

 Zenaidura carolincnsis (Linnaeus) 



