The Western Mourning Dove 



sively shorter feathers blue-gray basally, changing from light bluish ash to white on 

 tips, and crossed by black subterminal band; a patch of bright purplish red iridescent 

 feathers on upper side of neck; the remainder of head shading light drab, paling (nearly 

 white) on throat; a dab of black below ear; breast deep vinaceous, shading through 

 belly to cream-buff of crissum; wing-linings, axillars, and sides light blue-gray (light 

 Payne's gray). Bill black; bare space about eye light blue; feet lake red. Adult 

 female: Similar to male, but bluish of hindhead and neck restricted or wanting; 

 less iridescence; breast like back or merely tinged with vinaceous. Immature: Like 

 adult female, but duller, without iridescence; black spot below ear wanting; feathers 

 of foreparts above and below tipped with whitish. Length about 304.8 (12.00) ; wing 

 146.1-152.4 (5.75-6.00); tail 146.1-165.1 (5.75-6-50); bill 14.5 (.57). 



Recognition Marks. — Robin size; sober, blended colors; rapid, graceful flight, 

 accompanied by whistling sound of wings; mournful, "cooing" notes. 



Nesting. — Nest: A frail platform of twigs or straw, placed at moderate height 

 in tree, bush, cholla cactus, etc., or on stump, fence or low ledge; sometimes on ground 

 in open field. Eggs: 2 (3 and 4 of record); elliptical oval, or abruptly pointed; white. 

 Av. size 28 x 21 (1.10 x .83); index 75. Season: March-July; August-December of 

 record; two or more broods. 



Range of Zenaidura macroura. — The West Indies and North America from south- 

 ern Canada to Panama. 



Range of Z. m. marginella. — Western North America from the eastern edge of 

 the Great Plains to the Pacific (except possibly the northwest coastal strip), north to 

 British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and rarely Mackenzie, south to southern Mexico 

 and, in migrations, to Panama. 



Distribution in California. — Abundant summer resident and migrant through- 

 out the State in Sonoran zones, and in lesser numbers through Transition zone. Also 

 a casual visitor in Canadian zone. Winters commonly in the valleys of the San Diegan 

 district, irregularly and locally north through the central valleys. Common on all 

 the islands. 



Authorities. — Peale {Ectopistes carolinensis) , U. S. Expl. Exped., Birds, 1848, 

 p. 189 (San Francisco); Tyler, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 9, 1913, p. 35 (San Joaquin 

 Valley; habits, etc.); Howell, Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 1917, p. 53 (s. Calif, ids.); 

 Grinne.ll, Bryant and Storer, Game Birds Calif., 1918, p. 588, figs, (general account). 



WHEEEW hewh heeeeoooo hewh heeeeoooo. The tender, impassioned 

 notes of the Mourning Dove are not only the most familiar, the most 

 characteristic and commonplace, but the most lyric and soulful as well, 

 the most romantically moving of any in the American chorus. Though 

 the love-lorn swain blows but a single note, the sound sets a myriad 

 chords to vibrating, — hope, memory, and desire, no less than sadness. 

 Gentle melancholy, the sickness of springtime, is really the budding of 

 desire, the yearning of the Live One for his complement, the Also Living. 

 Love-sick the bird unquestionably is, but who are we that we should 

 affect to pity or to scorn? His is a voice of dignity and allurement, a 

 voice of gentle compulsion which bids us also sigh and hope and aspire. 

 Oh, there be those who call it doleful, and who profess a dislike for the 



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