Morph Mourning Dove

[NCLady]

This mourning dove was in my garden last year, and has returned with a mate.

[Tammie]

NCLady, I would be thrilled to have something like this return every year. Wonder if the babies will have the same pattern? Lucky you!

[SarahC]

Very interesting!

[ariddle]

Guess he's a partial albino? Very pretty.
Alicia

[Toucha kent]

Very nice I was watching a segment on animal planet last night on these types of doves.around here I have a female ring neck dove that stays in my cedar tree in the back yard.

[bcurrie]

Interesting. Looks like s/he has interbred with something.

Alicia, I do not believe that it is possible to be a partial albino. I think with albino, it is an all or nothing thing. I could be wrong, would appreciate if someone else has other info on this.

[paula]

Very interesting.....I feel the same as Brian.......that his parents were different species. Presumably all doves can inter breed. It is amazing that they usually find a mate of the same sort.

[Nina P]

I thought that was a lovely picture of a cute dove, I have a pair of collared doves feed in the front garden, and one has taken to feeding on the bird table, then having a drink from the bubble fountain, only the last two days only one appears, but I think they have a nest nearby. Why do they call it a mourning dove, we usually call them feral pigeons, which have interbred with fan tails, rock and stock doves. Nina.

[NCLady]

Nina: I think it's called a Mourning Dove due to its soulful "coo, coo, coo". It's our commonest native dove (Zenaida Macroura). 12", small head, sexes are similar in looks. On takeoff their wings make a whistling sound. They feed their nestlings "crop milk" which is secreted by both adults. This is the exclusive food for the nestlings for the first three days after hatching. Don't think I can show a picture of both the morph dove and the regular on this post, but will show it in the "gallery". Very possibly it's been interbred - but with what?

[bcurrie]

Nina/NCLady, these are not the same as feral pigeons. We also have lots of those. NCLady is right, they are called that because there call is supposedly thought of as very sad, thus being in mourning. Not the typical cooing of other doves.