Alabama Bird: Mourning Dove

In preparation for the Alabama Coastal BirdFest I am working on a series of birds native to Alabama. 

Today's bird is the Mourning Dove
Scientific name: Zenaida macroura

According to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: 

The Mourning Dove belongs to the family of doves and pigeons known as Columbidae. They are a medium sized bird with a delicate bill. The adults are slaty-brownish above with dark spots on the wings and back and have a long, pointed, white-edged tail. The neck is reddish brown with an iridescent sheen, while the body’s underside is pale tan with grayish wing linings. Upon close examination, the adult male can be distinguished from the adult female by prominent blue-gray feathers on the top of the head, a pinkish or rose-colored breast, and obvious iridescence along the sides of the throat. The “coo-oo, coo, coo, coo” call, for which mourning doves were named, is most prevalent in the spring, although it can be heard other times of the year as well.



Length of feather: 4"