Mourning Dove (Carolina Dove, Rain Crow)

The Mourning Dove is a slender, medium-sized dove with a long, tapering tail, pinkish-brown to greyish-brown upperparts, and dark spots on the wings. Known for its distinctive, mournful cooing vocalization and fast, whistling flight.

Soft powdery grey-blue base with a distinctive prominent dark grey to black spot on one side of the web, typical of the upperparts and wing coverts of a Mourning Dove. The rachis is white near the base and fades to grey distally.

Pennaceous upper portion with tightly interlocked barbs and barbicels, transitioning to a semiplumulaceous base with a small afterfeather (aftershaft). Barbs are mostly intact with slight fraying at the tip.

Smooth, soft texture with a matte appearance. Slightly powdery surface characteristic of the Columbidae family.

Soft grayish-blue color accompanied by a distinct, localized dark blackish spot on the vane and a whitish rachis at the base.

Open country, scattered trees, farm fields, prairies, deserts, and suburban areas. Prefers semi-open habitats close to water sources.

Widespread throughout North America, ranging from southern Canada through the Greater Antilles and Central America to Panama.

Serves as an important prey species for various raptors and provides seed dispersal for numerous native and agricultural plant species.

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), which is larger, paler, and lacks the dark wing spots characteristic of the Mourning Dove.

Mourning doves are among the most abundant and widely hunted birds in North America. They can drink brackish water safely and are capable of flying up to 55 mph.

Good condition. Minor wear and slight fraying at the distal tip, but overall structural integrity remains high with no major damage or fault bars.