D is for Doves - stocky, short-legged birds with short necks and small heads.
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| Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, January 15, 2016 |
Mourning Doves, Zenaida macroura, are common all across the United States. Their name comes from their call, a low mournful coo, coo, coo. In some states Mourning Doves are protected as song birds. In other states (Mississippi included) they are considered to be game birds, and there are regulated hunting seasons.
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| Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2015 |
In the Winter, Mourning Doves come to our feeders for black-oil sunflower seeds that we scatter on the ground, but they are very wary. The slightest sound startles them into flight. I made this photo through my dining room window. Obviously, I need to wash my windows if I want to get better pictures!
Have a Great Day!
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NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
Lovely choice... there a quit a lot in the city were i live.. some people do hate them, i don't know why.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice abc-day / - week
♫ M e l ☺ d u ♫ (abc-w-team)
Very enjoyable photos! They are early morning callers and I love their soft cooing.
ReplyDeleteLovely birds. We have them here in Canada too. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think they are beautiful, but they hang out on our bird feeders and eat up all the seed for the other little guys.
ReplyDeleteBrings Leonard Cohen's "Bird On The Wire" to mind.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. We have these birds even here in town, and always in pairs.
ReplyDeleteLovely choice for D and love the first dove photo ~ wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHappy Week to you ~ ^_^
I like to hear doves cooing. This one looks a sturdy fellow.
ReplyDeleteInteresting what you wrote about the dove. What's the difference between a pigeon and a dove? Thanks for shaing.
ReplyDeleteWil, ABCW Team
That is a good question. From what I have read from various sources, the birds are called 'doves' or 'pigeons' depending on where in the world they are. I think I remember that the word 'dove' is of German origin, and 'pigeon' is French. And generally speaking, doves tend to be smaller birds than pigeons. So, unless you are a scientist studying birds you can use the local terminology.
DeleteHope you are having a great day!
Lea
When I was a kid, I thought they were MORNING doves!
ReplyDeleteROG, ABCW
They have the nicest tails when the expand them.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. Mourning doves are regulars in my yard here as well.
ReplyDeleteI think doves are such a gentle bird...and have such a soft beauty about them.
ReplyDeleteNice pcitures
ReplyDeleteNice shot. We had a group - not enough to be a flock! - of pigeons in and around our garden today. Thats the weekend photography project sorted if they hang around!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne