Mourning Dove (Carolina Dove, American Mourning Dove)

The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized, slender-tailed dove with a pinkish-fawn breast, grey-brown upperparts, and distinct black spots on the wings. Known for its mournful cooing calls and swift, whistling flight, it is one of the most abundant and familiar birds across North America.

Uniform soft grayish-brown or light greyish-blue coloration with smooth tonal gradation, typical of melanin-based soft dove plumage.

Pennaceous vane distally with a plumulaceous (fluffy downy) base near the calamus attachment; barbs are intact with standard hooklets.

Smooth, soft texture with a matte finish; the distal vane is moderately firm while the base is downy and plush.

Soft greyish-brown coloration, rounded contour shape, and the distinct semi-plumulaceous fluffy base characteristic of dove breast feathers.

Open country, scattered trees, farmyards, prairies, urban areas, and suburban gardens across North and Central America.

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

Acts as an important seed predator and granivore, serving as a primary prey species for various raptors and predatory mammals.

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto), Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). Distinguished by smaller size and lighter, more uniform greyish-fawn tones.

Mourning doves can drink brackish water safely and are capable of flying up to 55 mph. They produce crop milk to feed their altricial nestlings.

Good condition; the vane is largely intact with minimal wear, though the extreme tip of the rachis shows slight truncation.