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Mourning Dove
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The Mourning Dove is one of the common bird species, being quite adaptable to human territory. They can be found all over North and Central America, on Vancouver Island and as well as in Panama and the Caribbean region. This specie measures 30 cm long, its color a soft combined shade of gray and brown, with dark spots on the wings. One may recognize them in flight upon seeing their long pointing tail. Mourning Doves are black billed, and known to have orange colored legs, and pale blue ring surrounding its dark eye.
The nest of a Mourning Dove is typically built by piling pine needles, twigs, weeds and grass. It tends to be fragile, as sudden movement from an incubating mother can cause the eggs to fall through the bottom, although Mourning Doves have been known to reuse a nest for up to 5 broods. It may be found perched between the height of 2 to 8 metres, placed at an intersection of sturdy branches. Mourning Doves usually have 2 to 3 eggs at a time, to be incubated in a period of 14 to 15 days. Incubation is continuous, with the male and female taking turns. After hatching, the young ones take 12 to 14 days before leaving their mother’s nest. The mother is able to produce a milky substance that is fed to the young ones through its mouth. The Mourning Dove is noted as a migratory type.
Breeding partners often stick together for a very long time. Partners will often keep to themselves, busy caring for their close families at breeding season and while raising the younglings. This breed’s cooing, however cheerless it may sound, actually marks the commencement of such important periods as asserting territory, nesting, and raising its young ones.
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