Mourning Dove (Carolina Dove, Rain Crow)

A delicate, soft body feather from the Mourning Dove, a slender, graceful bird known for its soft, plaintive cooing calls and swift, whistling flight

Soft grayish-blue to pale grayish-brown with a delicate pinkish or vinaceous hue typical of Mourning Dove breast plumage

Transition structure with a pennaceous upper vane and a prominent, fluffy plumulaceous base with loose barbs lacking strong hooklets

Soft, silky, and lightweight with a matte finish and fluffy insulating base

Pale grayish-pinkish-tan coloration, extremely soft texture with a fluffy base, and small size characteristic of dove breast or underpart plumage

Open country, scattered trees, farm fields, prairies, and suburban areas avoiding dense forests

Widespread throughout North America, ranging from southern Canada through the United States and Mexico into Central America

Important granivore that consumes vast amounts of weed seeds and waste grain, serving as a primary food source for numerous raptor species

Eurasian Collared-Dove or Rock Pigeon, which have larger feathers and different tonal variations

Mourning Doves can drink brackish water containing up to half the salinity of seawater and produce crop milk to feed their young

Good condition with intact barbs and minimal wear, suggesting it was naturally molted