Mourning Dove - (Zenaida macoura)

Mourning Doves and the smaller Common Ground Doves are found year-round in any area of the Imperial Valley - including urban backyards. The slightly larger White-winged Doves are more seasonal and tend to stay in the southern and eastern desert rural areas of the Valley. Only Mourning Doves and White-winged Doves are legal gamebirds during our local hunting seasons. Dove hunting season begins on September 1 each year with a 15-day period ending in mid-September. A second season kicks off in early to mid-November and continues for approximately 45 days each year.

If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html

They present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Mourning Dove

OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:

Attracting Doves to Your Land - North Carolina State University publication with information on improving dove habitat.

The following "WAV" format sound files are copyright protected by Doug Van Gausig of Sedona, Arizona, as part of the "Sounds of Nature" Web site:

• http://users.sedona.net/~dougvg/mourndove1.wav - Mourning Dove lament

• http://users.sedona.net/~becky/dovewing1.wav - Mourning Dove wing 'whistle'