This pair of Mourning Doves was on the ground beneath the bird feeder. Doves are usually ground feeders.
Mourning Dove with fluffed feathers
These pretty brown doves are related to the common "park pigeon", a.k.a. Rock Dove. Their name comes from the mournful cooing sound they make. Mourning Doves are the "rabbits" of the birds, they are quite prolific breeders, having up to 6 broods of babies per year (2 babies each time)! They don't have a chance to suffer from "empty nest syndrome", as soon as the babies fly away they mate and start all over again! Whew! At least the father bird stays around to help mom! :) We have had Mourning Doves build a nest in our hanging baskets on the porch outside our front door. They are really messy, the babies use the porch as their toilet!
