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Birding/Mourning dove behavior

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Expert: - 5/16/2010


Question
I recently noticed a mourning dove standing in my yard in the same place at various times of the day.  When I went to investigate, I found a dead robin.  We removed the bird, but I continue to see the mourning dove standing at the same place, although not quite as often.  Is the mourning dove "mourning"?

Answer
Without seeing the exact situation, I can't tell you why the dove is where it is, but it's not mourning. The name Mourning Dove comes from its plaintive call, not behavior. Birds typically get comfortable in a particular place and tend to frequent that place. It has nothing to do with the robin, I'm sure.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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