Mourning Dove (Rain Dove, Turtle Dove)

A slender, graceful feather from a medium-sized bird known for its long, pointed tail and mournful 'coo-oo' call. The bird itself is soft gray-brown with black spots on the wings and a distinctive iridescent patch on the neck in males.

Uniform brownish-gray to mousy-tan coloration; lacks distinct banding or spotting; the rachis is dark; ventral surface is slightly paler with a silvery sheen

Densely packed pennaceous barbs designed for silent flight and aerodynamics; plumulaceous (fluffy) downy barbs present only at the extreme base (calamus)

Smooth, stiff, and slightly waxy; the surface has a fine 'bloom' common to doves that provides some water resistance and helps with aeroacoustics

Soft brownish-gray color, extreme asymmetry of the vanes, and the specific narrow, tapered shape characteristic of Zenaida primaries

Open and semi-open habitats including agricultural fields, suburban gardens, grasslands, and light woods; avoids deep unbroken forests

Abundant across North America, from Southern Canada through Central America; year-round resident in most of the US, with northern populations migrating south

Primary seed eater (granivore) that plays a role in seed dispersal; serves as a vital food source for many raptors (hawks and falcons)

White-winged Dove (has white patches), Eurasian Collared-Dove (larger, grayer), Rock Pigeon (larger, broader)

Mourning Doves can fly at speeds up to 55 mph and their wings make a distinctive whistling sound during take-off and landing as a startle tactic for predators

Good to Excellent; the vanes are mostly intact with minimal fraying at the tip, suggesting it was recently molted or freshly shed