Mourning Dove (Carolina Dove, Rain Crow)

The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized, slender dove with a long, tapered tail, pinkish-fawn breast, and distinctive black spots on the wings. Known for its plaintive cooing calls and rapid, whistling flight.

Soft grayish-blue to brownish-gray coloration, typical of the muted tones found on the underparts and flanks of doves

Plumulaceous and semiplume structure, with loose, un-interlocked barbs along the lower portion and slightly more cohesive pennaceous barbs near the tip, lacking strong hooklets

Soft, fluffy, and silky texture with a matte finish, lacking oiliness or rigidity

Soft grey-brown coloration, delicate semiplume structure, small size, and fine flexible rachis

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

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

Serves as an important prey species for various raptors and a significant consumer of weed seeds and waste grain

Eurasian Collared-Dove, Passenger Pigeon (extinct), and Common Ground-Dove

Mourning doves can drink brackish water containing up to half the salinity of sea water and are one of the most widely distributed and abundant game birds in North America

Good condition with minor wear at the tips of the barbs, likely naturally molted