Pigeons and Doves

Mourning Dove - 10 Mile Pond, MO Feeding roadside this bird jumped up to a sluice gate frame to have a look to see who was coming at 10 Mile Pond near the Mississippi River in Missouri. This little bird seems to take more crash landings than he should base on the tail feathers being worn out. The Mourning dove is name for the plaintive cooing sound it gives out while roosting. I always try to get at least one Mourning dove on birding trips of the states with this being no exception. Michael W Klotz 2022 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Mourning Dove - 10 Mile Pond, MO
Mourning Dove - Wildhorse, AB For such a plain brown bird these little members of the pigeon family get tons of attention. It could be the soft mournful sound that they are named after, or the small cute frame of these generally shy birds. They are numerous throughout North America, but are slowly declining in the west. This bird was sitting pretty on a fence post just north of the Wildhorse, Alberta border crossing. Michael W Klotz 2019 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Mourning Dove - Wildhorse, AB
Band-tailed Pigeon - Golden Eagle Golf Club, BC On a cold, wet and dreary day we made the rounds of the Pitt River Flood plains and came across our only native pigeon species. Band-tailed pigeons are usually secretive and found at higher elevations but we were happy to have our subject taking the Vancouver liquid sunshine in stride. This is the only species of pigeon that is native to BC with the majority of them coming from Central and South America for the summer months with a very small handful staying for the winter near the water. Michael W Klotz 2020 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Band-tailed Pigeon - Golden Eagle Golf Club, BC
Mourning Dove - Richmond, BC We don't get Mourning doves often here in Vancouver and we certainly don't expect to see them at below freezing temperatures. There are three wintering over at the Richmond Nature Park where the nature house puts out seed for all manor of birds. The lichen and moss really make the shot of this rare winter visitor. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com Picture
Mourning Dove - Richmond, BC
Mourning Dove - Palos Verdes, CA Mourning Doves are very well camouflaged on the ground in an among the backed clay and twigs, but when you get to have a close look at the subtle colors, They are intriguing. The red feet and base of the bill with the small iridescent patch on the neck and the light hint of blue around the eye. It is very rare that they let you get close enough to see the highlights. This shot was taken in the South Coast Botanic Gardens next to the dry lake bed where they are year round in the open country. Michael W Klotz - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Mourning Dove - Palos Verdes, CA
This dove was photographed at one of my favorite stops in the Greater Vancouver Area, as there are all sorts of surprises and close encounter here. This is the Richmond Nature Park where they have interpretive center that explains the flora and fauna of the bog in that area. these Mourning Doves are not a regular resident in the summer and are only slightly more common in the winter. Interesting how one bird can be a rarity one place and not more than a 4 hour drive can be found in flocks.
Mourning Dove - Richmond, BC
Inca Dove - Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ Found this dove in a group of 5 birds along the water at Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch in a suburb of Phoenix, AZ. They were relatively at ease even at a short distance. Michael W Klotz 2006 - www.TheBirdBlogger.com
Inca Dove - Gilbert Water Ranch, AZ