Mourning Dove (Rain Dove, Turtle Dove)
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Columbiformes, Family: Columbidae, Genus: Zenaida, Species: Z. macroura · Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) · Tail feathers (Rectrices), likely the inner large lateral feathers.
Species
Zenaida macroura
Feather Type
Tail feathers (Rectrices), likely the inner large lateral feathers.
Family
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
Shape
Slightly asymmetrical, elongated with a tapered, rounded tip and a narrow proximal end.
Size
Approximately 4 to 5 inches (10-13 cm) in length, consistent with the graduated tail feathers of this species.
Rarity
Very Common; one of the most widespread and abundant birds in North America.
Color & Pattern
Base is a soft cool-gray with a distinctive wide black subterminal band and a crisp white or light-gray terminal tip.
Barb Structure
Densely interlocked pennaceous barbs transitioning to soft, plumulaceous down at the base; barbicels are present and intact.
Texture & Surface
Smooth, matte, and soft to the touch; characteristic 'velvet' texture typical of the Columbidae family.
Description
These are the diagnostic tail feathers of a Mourning Dove, a slender-bodied bird known for its mournful cooing and whistling wingbeats. The bird is generally sandy-buff and gray with black spots on the wings.
Key Features
The 'black-and-white' terminal pattern against a gray base is diagnostic; the graduation of the tail allows for these specific lengths.
Habitat
Open and semi-open habitats including agricultural fields, suburban gardens, wood margins, and grasslands.
Geographic Range
Abundant across North America, from Southern Canada through Central America; northern birds migrate to the southern US and Mexico.
Condition Notes
Excellent condition; the feathers appear freshly molted with very little vane separation or UV bleaching.
Interesting Facts
The whistling sound heard when they take flight is actually produced by their feathers, specifically the P1 primary, acting as an alarm signal.
Ecological Role
Primary seed eaters (granivores) and a vital prey species for small hawks and falcons; they act as an important link in the food web.
Similar Species
Eurasian Collared-Dove (feathers have more white on the outer tips and lack the same saturation in the subterminal band).