Mourning Dove, Gilbert AZ

Birds might as well be people:

  • Some are small, some are large
  • Some can’t sit still, some repose as a core competence
  • Some like to hide in bushes, some like to display themselves on pillars

OK, maybe not that last one exactly.

These mourning doves are everywhere in this part of Arizona: too many wheres, really, given their gets-on-your-nerves bloody endless cooing.

But sometimes one cooperates in a photo shoot, redeeming itself somewhat.

Close-up of mourning dove with head facing backwards.

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12 Responses to Mourning Dove, Gilbert AZ

  1. Jim Taylor says:

    In Africa, we learned the words to some dove calls. E.g., “I am… a red-eyed-dove. I am… a red-eyed-dove…” Too bad they didn’t have a bigger vocabulary.
    Jim T

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Jim T – I expect there’s some demonic mnemonic for the mourning dove, too. But yes, it’s a fiendishly limited repertoire.

  2. Marion says:

    The ‘gets-on-your-nerves bloody endless cooing’ of “I am a grey dove sitting on the wire” seems to be everywhere in the part of Arizona that I frequent as well. Except when the hawks come by. Then it’s eerily quiet.

  3. John Whitman says:

    Isabel – there are mourning doves all over the place in Egypt as well. Now every time I hear that endless cooing it reminds me of waking up in Ismailia to the sound of that damned cooing.
    After the morning doves, the donkeys started braying – so it was impossible to sleep in past sun rise – even if you wanted to.

  4. Ian Hepher says:

    Are there any evening doves?

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Ian – Not that I know of. There are, however, laughing gulls, which at least act as an emotional counterweight. Sometimes their call/voice just sounds raucous; sometimes it’s infectious.

  5. Jim Robertson says:

    If you believe this person, some birds can throw their voices. (Warning white text on black background very hard on the eyes)

    http://www.birdingisfun.com/2011/01/bird-ventriloquism.html

    PS: Nice catch light in the dove’s eye

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Jim R – Thanks! If I understand her, she’s saying it can be hard for humans to locate the origin of the sound – maybe not so much for other birds. And you’re right – that text combination is hard on the eyes.

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