Mourning Dove

A soft, earth-toned feather from a Mourning Dove, a slender-tailed bird known for its mournful 'coo-oo' call and whistling wingbeats. The bird itself is gracefully proportioned with a small head and a long, pointed tail.

Soft grayish-brown or 'mousy' tan with a subtle buff gradient; the base is light gray to white and fluffy; lacks the dark spotting found on wing coverts

Densely pennaceous at the distal end, highly plumulaceous (downy) at the base to provide insulation

Smooth, soft, and velvety texture; matte finish typical of Columbidae feathers which produce 'powder down'

Soft tan-gray coloration, very fluffy white base, and a smooth rounded tip; lacks the iridescent sheen of neck feathers or the black bars of wing primaries

Open and semi-open habitats including agricultural fields, suburban gardens, grasslands, and light woods

Abundant throughout North America, ranging from Southern Canada through Central America and the Caribbean

Primary seed eater (granivore) acting as a prey species for many raptors; plays a role in seed dispersal

Eurasian Collared-Dove (slightly larger and paler) or White-winged Dove (which has darker, more contrasting feathers)

Mourning Doves can fly at speeds up to 55 mph and are one of the few birds that can drink water by suction without tilting their heads back

Good; showing natural wear at the tip but the plumulaceous base remains intact and clean