Mourning Doves
There’s a species of birds that are a permanent fixture in my backyard, non other that the Mourning Doves.
I would dare to make not so wild estimate that they account for approximately 50% of the seed consumption from all feeders in my backyard! They eat like politicians in a free banquet! Gluttons is a good description for these doves!
At your first look they might seem to be innocent and peace loving birds but how far from the truth you can be! They are naughty birds, often push other birds away from the feeders and they have a habit of fighting among themselves and all the ruckus they create is just a waste of seeds that fly all over. They also love to station themselves in front of a feeder and eat until there’s no more!
But their brain is not as big as their stomach must be, when there’s imminent danger they don’t fly away, instead they freeze and assume that the enemy can’t see them. That’s why most of the time they are the most likely victims. But then, that’s life in the wilderness!
Text and photographs © H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
I don’t think I realized how BIG they are up close…wowser!
Thanks for your comment Laurie! 🙂
A nice set of pictures for birds that cost you so much.
🙂
I don’t think they’re quite as stupid as they appear. They can dance! Beautiful pictures, showing off their iridescent colors as they change with the light.
Thank you Lisa! 🙂
You are so right about their behavior at the feeders! Everyone complains about the aggressiveness of blue jays, I have found that mourning doves far out-do blue jays for aggression! And they are pigs! They get on the feeder and won’t let anything else land and then half the seed ends up on the ground! I’ve even tried feeding safflower to discourage them, but they still come back. I admit I’m forever pounding on the window or opening the door to shoo them away so the other birds can eat.
What I usually do is clap my hands loudly once or twice, they get spooked and fly away… for a while and then come back! 🙂
Thanks for sharing NW!