It takes both parents to provide enough food for the growing nestlings. Both Mourning Dove parents feed their young on “crop milk,” a yogurt-like secretion produced by the walls of their crop.Male and female Mourning Doves look very similar, but the male is slightly larger and has a more colorful bluish crown on its head and a pink colored chest.This is the record life span for a North American bird that lives on land. The oldest known free-living bird, discovered through bird banding research, was over 31 years old. The average life span for an adult Mourning Dove is 1 ½ years.It is estimated that between 50-65% of all Mourning Doves die annually. Death from non-hunting related causes (weather, predators, disease, etc.) are believed to take four to five times the number of Mourning Doves each year than hunting does.Despite being one of the most widespread game birds in North America, with over 70 million shot annually, the Mourning Dove is still one of the 10 most abundant birds found in the United States with an estimated fall population of over 400 million birds.Look for the female Mourning Dove incubating her eggs from late afternoon until midmorning, and then watch for the male to come and take his turn during the heat of the day.This prolific number of nesting cycles is the largest of any North American bird. Mourning Doves may have up to six clutches per year with a typical clutch size of two eggs. The male supervises the construction while standing on the back of the female as she works. Mourning Doves’ nests are woven together by the female with materials collected by the male.Mourning Doves produce a mournful cooing sound which is probably responsible for its memorable common name.It can suck up its total daily requirement in less than 20 seconds. Doves are one of the few species of birds that drink by sucking up their water instead of taking a bill full of water and letting it trickle down their throat.Panting requires the doves to drink a great deal of water due the excessive loss of moisture to evaporation. Like all birds, Mourning Doves are unable to sweat, so to stay cool during hot weather … they pant just like a dog.
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