THE MOURNING DOVE. 



{Zenaidura macroura.) 



The breeding and the geographical 

 ranges, both being practically the same, 

 are extensive, covering temperate North 

 America from the southern portion of 

 Canada and British Columbia, southward 

 ward to Panama and the West Indies. 

 The majority of these birds winter south 

 of the more northern states, but some 

 have been known to remain through this 

 season as far north as Ontario. The coo- 

 ing of this Dove, which is one of the 

 most mournful sounds in nature, is also 

 one of the characteristic voices of spring. 

 The sadness of its notes, however, do not 

 indicate a mournful nature, for they are 

 not notes of grief, but, rather, they indi- 

 cate attachment for their mates. 



The Mourning Dove, also called Tur- 

 tle Dove and Carolina Dove or Pigeon, 

 is to my mind a bird of exemplary 

 habits. It is rarely quarrelsome and 

 easily adapts itself to its favorite locality, 

 placing its nest wherever it seems most 

 convenient. The nests of these birds 

 may be built in trees, bushes, on stumps 

 and logs, on cliffs and on the ground, 

 especially in treeless regions. Occa- 

 sionally they will utilize the old nests of 

 other birds, and I know of one instance 

 where a pair nested in a cavity of a tree. 

 It is my experience that the Mourning 

 Doves are rarely seen during the nesting 

 season in greater numbers than two in 

 an area of one or two acres. This trait 

 may account, to some extent at least, for 

 the fact that they are abundant and have 

 not been exterminated as is nearly the 

 case with its relative, the passenger 

 pigeon. I am informed that these Doves 

 sometimes nest in colonies consisting of 

 a few pairs. In one instance, it is said, 

 the nests were found in a small group of 

 pine trees. The nests are simply frail 

 platforms made of sticks, twigs and 

 roots when built in trees, but if placed 

 on a large limb or a stump a mere rim 

 of twigs, sufficient to retain the eggs, is 

 constructed. On the ground a few 



straws and twigs are all that is usually 

 used. These Doves rear two and some- 

 times three broods in a season. 



After the breeding season both the 

 young and the old Doves collect in flocks 

 and resort to grain fields and berry 

 patches. Eating plentifully of various 

 grains, the seeds of weeds, small acorns 

 and other nuts, berries, worms and in- 

 sects, they become fat and their flesh be- 

 comes delicate and makes a food that is 

 appreciated by hunters. At this time, it 

 is a favorite pastime.of gunners to station 

 themselves in the fields and bag the birds, 

 their swift and straight flight offering a 

 great temptation to the sportsmen. 



An interesting note regarding the 

 Mourning Doves in the arid regions of 

 the Southwest is given by Major Charles 

 Bendire in his "Life Histories of North 

 American Birds." He says : 'Tn the 

 more arid regions of the West, especially 

 in southern Arizona, I have often no- 

 ticed this Dove a long way from water, 

 but as they are exceedingly strong and 

 rapid flyers, distance is but a trifling 

 matter to them. They usually visit their 

 regular watering places in the morning, 

 and in the evening just before sundown, 

 and, where water holes or springs are 

 scarce, they can be seen coming from all 

 directions in search of such localities, 

 usually in pairs or little parties of from 

 four to six. At this time, if closely 

 watched, they are a sure guide to water. 

 Old mountaineers are well aware of this 

 fact, and, if not familiar with the coun- 

 try they shape their course after the line 

 of travel of these Doves, which is al- 

 ways a direct and straight route to the 

 objective point." 



In the southern portion of the range 

 of the Mourning Doves, their mating sea- 

 son begins early in March, and fresh 

 eggs have been found toward the last of 

 that month, and Major Bendire says that 

 he has taken them in Arizona as late as 

 the fourteenth of September and might, 



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