PIGEONS 
251 
316. Mourning Dove. Carolina dove, la tourterelle triste. Zenaidura 
macroura. L, 11-85. Plate XXX B. A small pigeon with a pointed tail much like the 
Passenger Pigeon in colour and outline, but smaller and duller in colour. 
Distinctions. The Mourning Dove occurs over nearly all the southern parts of 
Canada, ft is easily separated from the Band-tailed Pigeon of the west coast by its smaller 
size, fawn coloration, and long, pointed tail (Figure 374). It is often mistaken for the extinct 
Figure 374 
Tail of Mourning Dove (under side); 
scale, 5. 
Passenger Pigeon, but is considerably smaller than that bird — wing under 6 inches instead 
of over 8. It is similar in colour to females and juveniles of that species, but quite dis- 
tinct from adult males. The breast is light purplish pink instead of distinctly red, the 
head is pale fawn colour with but little bluish cast, the back is olive-fawn, and there is in all 
but the most immature plumages a small black spot dn the side of the neck below the 
ear. Four middle tail feathers are dark to the tip (Compare Figure 374 with 375). 
The White-winged Dove has occurred on Vancouver Island and is a bird of similar 
size and colour. It has a round tail, however, and a large white patch on the wings that 
this species never has. 
Nesting. A loose nest of sticks in brushy thickets, occasionally on the ground. Nests 
alone and not in communities. 
Distribution. North America, from southern Canada to Panama and the West 
Indies. 
SUBSPECIES. The type form of the species inhabits the West Indies and some of 
the adjoining mainland. The subspecies of eastern North America is the Eastern Mourn- 
ing Dove (la Tourterelle triste de l’Kst) Zenaidura macroura carolinensis. Throughout 
most of the west the Western Mourning Dove (la Tourterelle triste de FOuest) Zenaidura 
macroura marginella occurs. It is paler and greyer in colour and slightly larger in size 
than t he eastern bird, but the difference is slight , and one of averages rather than individual 
specimens. This form extends east in Canada to include Manitoba. A dark, heavily 
coloured form, the Dusky Mourning Dove Zenaidura macroura caurina, has lately been 
officially recognized from the coast of Oregon and may occur on the southern British 
Columbia coast. 
Though the Passenger Pigeon lias disappeared entirely, the smaller 
Mourning Dove still exists and probably has greatly increased with the 
clearing of the country. The general food habits of the two birds were 
much alike except in the proportion of the various food elements. The 
Mourning Dove eats mast readily, but mast formed the principal food of 
the pigeon which was, therefore, more of a woodland bird. The Mourning 
Dove is of more solitary habits and rarely goes in flocks of any size. It 
nests entirely alone. This may be a large factor in its continued existence 
where its larger and originally more numerous relative has failed. Disease 
could not spread through the ranks so thoroughly and any other calamity 
that might affect individuals or small bodies would not involve the species 
as a whole. In many sections the Mourning Dove is regarded as a game- 
bird, but such status is not recognized by law anywhere in Canada. Num- 
bers are killed, however, incidental to other sport, in spite of legal protection, 
and the life of the species is not an undisturbed one. It is, however, a 
strong and thriving race and is in little immediate danger. 
