e too few in numbers to be of 
to b 
Habits and Hunting.—The short-billed pigeon seems 
importance as a game bird. Like several of the other pigeons present in the Sire 
forests, it does not occur sufficiently near centers of population to be accessible 
to many hunters. 
84, Zenaidura macroura carolinensis (Linnaeus) 
Bastern Mourning Dove 
Other Names.=- 
Guatemalan: huilota, guirguira, guira, arrozera, paloma mensajera 
Ymglish : dove, mourning dove 
d migrant, especially in the 
Status.~-The mourning dove is an abundant winter visitant an 
highlands. Specimens of both carolinensis and marginella have been collected, but it seems 
probable that most of these doves are the western subspecies. 
8 A medium sized, small-headed, slender, brownish dove; tail of graduated 
feathers, middle tail brown, outer ones broadly tipped with white. 
Adult male.—-Head and neck brown with bluish tinge, sides of neck with bronze 
and red metallic iridescence, a violet-black spot under ear coverts; upperparts, including 
middle tail feathers, grayish blue shaded with brown; underparts purplish brown, buffier 
on belly and abdomen, more bluish on sides and under wings, chin whitish; wing brown with 
conspicuous black spots on some of wing coverts and scapulars; tail with feathers graduated 
in length, middle pair brown and longest, lateral feathers bluish, with subterminal black 
bar, the outer four broadly tipped with white; bill small and black, iris brown, eye ring 
blue, legs and feet red. 
Adult female.--Slightly smaller than male, browner and paler by comparison, head 
and neck with less iridescence and bluish coloration. 
Male (24) Female (15) 
Wing, 138 - 153 (147.2) Wing, 135 -— 146 (139.6) 
Tail, 120 — 162.5 (142.3) Tail, 96.5 - 137 (120.4) 
Tarsus, 19.5 - 22 (20.6) Tarsus, 19 - 21 (19.6) 
Culmen, 13 - 15 (13.6) Culmen, 12 - 14 (13) 
General Distribution.-—-Breeds in eastern North America (east of the Great Plains) from 
Wisconsin, Michigan, southern Ontario, central New York, southern Maine, New Brunewick and 
Nova Scotia, south to the Gulf coast and Florida; Bahama Islands. Winters chiefly south 
of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers, casually to eastern México and Central America. 
Distribution in Guatemala.--Tropical to Temperate Zonee, very common on the Pacific coastal 
plain, in the highlands and interior arid valleys. 
Records.--The following records are for the species and probably indicate the general 
distribution of both subspecies: 
lake Amatitl&n, March 8, 1942; February 28, March 9, 25, and 29, 1946, April 17-20, 
1947; Progreso (Dept. of Jutiapa), April 25 and 27, 1946; Chiquimulilla, March 26, 1946; 
Cerritos, March 27, 1946; Sean José, February 28, 1946, April 3, 1947; Esouintla, March 26, 
1946; Tiquisate, April 9~12, 1946; Finca Helvetia, April 13 and 14 1947; Solold, March 1, 
1946; Panajachel, May 1, 1946, May 31, 1947; San lucas Tolim&n, May 3, 1946; Patzicia, 
May 4, 1946; Chimaltenango, March 2, 1946; Guatemala, February 28, March 9 and 25, April 7, 8, 
and 14, 1946, several records in April and May 1947; San Marcos, March 4, 1942; San Pedro 
Jocopilas, April 22-23, 1947; Sacapulas, April 23~24, 27, 1947; Trujillo, Zacapa, May 6, 
1947; Cabafias, Zacapa, May 8, 1947; Alotenango, March 1942; Desconsuelo, March 1942; Chiul, 
near Nebaj, April 24, 1947; Nebaj, April 26, 1947, 
It is reported by local hunters to be common all through the highlands where grain 
is cultivated. iy 
In literature it is recorded from: San Martin de Quetzaltenango, Duefias (Salvin 
and Godman); Guald4n to Bl Rancho (Dearborn); la Montatita (Griscom); Volckn de Agua near 
Alotenango, November 5, 1936; Ila Alameda near Chimaltenango, November 7, 1936; Barranca 
Honda near Alotenango, November 2, 1936; Panajachel, November 11, to 15, 1936; Desconsuelo, 
November 24, 1936 (Wetmore). Specimens from the first two localities listed by Wetmore were 
identified by him as the western form marginella, 
80 
