First of two parts
Teri Dunn contributed the following article in the Birds&Blooms magazine: “Mournings doves are beloved in backyards across the United States. Here are interesting facts you should know about the beautiful mourning dove:
“I already knew that mourning doves sometimes will hang around our cold, snow-filled Northeast Winters rather than migrate, if there is food, that is, if we keep our bird feeders stocked. My thoughts turned to it when I watched from the window as a pair of them scooped up some spillage off the ground below one of our backyard feeders. They’re still here, and I resolved to keep the feeders full and help them stay around. I find their cooing sound comforting. Here are some interesting facts about the mourning dove, which may enhance your appreciation of this bird, too.
What Do Mourning Doves Eat?
“Mourning doves are primarily seed-eaters, not insect-eaters. These birds can and do eat weed seeds, which is certainly valuable to gardeners as well as farmers, or anyone living near overgrown vacant lots. They do like corn, though. These doves evolved specifically for ground foraging, eating up to 20% of their body weight in seeds daily.
The Best Mourning Dove Feeders
“To attract these gorgeous doves to your yard, install an open platform feeder, ground feeder, or even scatter seeds across the ground. Wild grasses, grains and ragweed are a few of their favorite foods, though they will eat larger seeds, including sunflower seeds, cracked corn and shelled peanuts in a pinch.
Check out the best cardinal bird feeders and birdseed.
Mourning Doves Stockpile Food
“When these birds grab seeds off the ground, they are not necessarily eating them. Instead, they are stockpiling for digesting later. The seeds collect in the crop, which is simply an enlarged part of their esophagus. Then they head to a secluded perch for digestion. Mourning doves often have a noticeably round breast, because it expands during feeding. Scientists once found a record-holding bird with 17,200 bluegrass seeds stuffed away in its crop.
What Does a Mourning Dove Look Like?
“Both male and female mourning doves are known for their brown and gray coloring, black spots, small heads and slender tails. They have that really amazing mix of muted tones, with beautiful defined black spots on their wings. ‘You can sort of see an iridescence,’ said John Rowden, who is the senior director of bird-friendly communities at the National Audubon Society. They are 12 inches long with an 18 inch wingspan.”
Continued next week