Birding/white dove

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Expert: - 8/23/2007


Question
Hi Roger

I live in Worcester, Mass. My question to you is, what temperture is to cold for this [bird] dove. This is my second dove I've found on a side street on the ground.

thank you; marie collins

Answer
I don't know what kind of dove or pigeon you are referring to, so it's hard to give a specific answer. If it is an escaped dove, it may not be able to adapt to the outside environment. Given you found two of these birds, it is probably not an escapee. If it is a wild bird, it should either be one that migrates or one that stays around and is used to the weather. Finding it on the ground does not mean it is too cold - something else might be making it ill. If I knew what kind of dove or pigeon it is, I could offer a better explanation. In any case, it is probably not the cold weather.

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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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