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Questions and Answers
What is the average length of a mourning dove?
What is the average length of a mourning dove?
Which feature differs between male and female mourning doves?
Which feature differs between male and female mourning doves?
What primarily determines the range of mourning doves?
What primarily determines the range of mourning doves?
During which months do mourning doves typically start migrating south?
During which months do mourning doves typically start migrating south?
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How do mourning doves behave during bad weather?
How do mourning doves behave during bad weather?
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What is the typical grouping behavior of mourning doves after the nesting period?
What is the typical grouping behavior of mourning doves after the nesting period?
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What distinguishes the eastern race of mourning doves from the western race?
What distinguishes the eastern race of mourning doves from the western race?
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How do male mourning doves defend their nesting territory?
How do male mourning doves defend their nesting territory?
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What is the primary courtship activity displayed by males?
What is the primary courtship activity displayed by males?
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How long does the incubation period last for mourning dove eggs?
How long does the incubation period last for mourning dove eggs?
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What kind of nests do mourning doves typically prefer?
What kind of nests do mourning doves typically prefer?
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Which factor primarily affects the population of mourning doves?
Which factor primarily affects the population of mourning doves?
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What do young mourning doves require after hatching?
What do young mourning doves require after hatching?
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What is the typical diet of mourning doves?
What is the typical diet of mourning doves?
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What is the average lifespan of a mourning dove?
What is the average lifespan of a mourning dove?
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During nesting, where do mourning doves prefer to feed?
During nesting, where do mourning doves prefer to feed?
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What is the role of gravel or grit in the mourning dove's diet?
What is the role of gravel or grit in the mourning dove's diet?
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In what situation do mourning doves nest on the ground?
In what situation do mourning doves nest on the ground?
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What contributes most to the favorable habitat for mourning doves?
What contributes most to the favorable habitat for mourning doves?
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Which management practice helps increase dove populations?
Which management practice helps increase dove populations?
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How do mourning doves often manage nest destruction?
How do mourning doves often manage nest destruction?
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What contributes to the young mourning doves' growth after leaving the nest?
What contributes to the young mourning doves' growth after leaving the nest?
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The Mourning Dove, typically weighing between 3.5 and 5 ounces, is recognized for its sleek, streamlined body. What is the typical wingspan of this bird?
The Mourning Dove, typically weighing between 3.5 and 5 ounces, is recognized for its sleek, streamlined body. What is the typical wingspan of this bird?
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While the Mourning Dove is widely distributed across North America, their migration patterns are influenced by specific factors. Based on the text, which is a primary reason for their southward migration?
While the Mourning Dove is widely distributed across North America, their migration patterns are influenced by specific factors. Based on the text, which is a primary reason for their southward migration?
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The text highlights the social structure of Mourning Doves, emphasizing their monogamous nature. Which of the following accurately depicts their social interactions outside of the nesting season?
The text highlights the social structure of Mourning Doves, emphasizing their monogamous nature. Which of the following accurately depicts their social interactions outside of the nesting season?
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Mourning Doves are known to display distinct courtship behaviors. Which activity is specifically mentioned as a method used by a male dove to defend his nesting territory?
Mourning Doves are known to display distinct courtship behaviors. Which activity is specifically mentioned as a method used by a male dove to defend his nesting territory?
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The Mourning Dove's migration is described as a leisurely event. Based on the text, what is a typical aspect of this journey?
The Mourning Dove's migration is described as a leisurely event. Based on the text, what is a typical aspect of this journey?
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The text mentions two distinct races of Mourning Doves. Which of the following options accurately describes their geographical distribution?
The text mentions two distinct races of Mourning Doves. Which of the following options accurately describes their geographical distribution?
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How is the range of Mourning Doves determined outside the nesting season?
How is the range of Mourning Doves determined outside the nesting season?
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Though Mourning Doves are known for their monogamous pairings during nesting, what happens to their social structure after the breeding season?
Though Mourning Doves are known for their monogamous pairings during nesting, what happens to their social structure after the breeding season?
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What is the main courtship activity of mourning doves?
What is the main courtship activity of mourning doves?
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How long is the incubation period for mourning dove eggs?
How long is the incubation period for mourning dove eggs?
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What type of food primarily constitutes the diet of mourning doves?
What type of food primarily constitutes the diet of mourning doves?
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What adaptation helps mourning doves in finding food?
What adaptation helps mourning doves in finding food?
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What determines the nesting sites of mourning doves?
What determines the nesting sites of mourning doves?
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What is the relationship between hunting mortality and next year's breeding population?
What is the relationship between hunting mortality and next year's breeding population?
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How do mourning doves behave if their nest is destroyed?
How do mourning doves behave if their nest is destroyed?
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Which factor does NOT limit the population of mourning doves?
Which factor does NOT limit the population of mourning doves?
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What role does 'pigeon milk' serve for young mourning doves?
What role does 'pigeon milk' serve for young mourning doves?
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Which vegetation management practice positively impacts dove populations?
Which vegetation management practice positively impacts dove populations?
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What is a common behavior of juvenile mourning doves after fledging?
What is a common behavior of juvenile mourning doves after fledging?
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What percentage of young mourning doves do not breed in their first year?
What percentage of young mourning doves do not breed in their first year?
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Which factor contributes most to the unfavorable habitat conditions for mourning doves?
Which factor contributes most to the unfavorable habitat conditions for mourning doves?
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Study Notes
Mourning Dove Biological Facts
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Physical Characteristics: Streamlined, 11-13 inches long, 3.5-5 ounces. Wings with large white spots (5.5-7 inches long). Long neck, small head. Males slightly more brightly colored than females, but distinction challenging. Iridescent lower neck, bluish bare skin around eyes, dark brown irises. Slender black bill, red legs and feet. Juveniles and females are smaller with duller colours and shorter tails. Pigeon-like.
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Geographic Range and Migration: Native to North America. Found from Canada to the Bahamas, and winters from California to Georgia, south to Panama. May be found in Alaska and Greenland in summer. Eastern race generally east of the Great Plains, western to the west. Migrate south in September, mostly morning and late afternoon flight, roosting at night and resting during the middle of the day. Average 15 miles per day migration, usually completed by December. Fossil evidence found at La Brea Tar Pits (California) and Pleistocene deposits (Arizona).
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Behaviour and Social Structure: No territories except during breeding. Ranges determined by food and roosting cover. Constant movement for food, seclusion in bad weather. Monogamous pairs during nesting, then gathering in flocks. Flocks of 20+ fly together during migration. No strong social ties outside nesting season. Groups often collect on wires or feeding grounds, sometimes making it hard to distinguish adults from juveniles.
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Breeding and Nesting: Mating in January/February (south) to March/April (north). Male selects territory and defends it by cooing, flight displays, and attacks, sometimes reducing territory size due to other male pressure. Cooing is main courtship, most intense at dawn. Female attracted by male's cooing. Loose nests, usually in trees (5-25 ft above ground), but ground-nesting in crowded/tree-lacking areas. Second egg laid two days after first. Use existing nests, or make new ones if the old ones were destroyed. Two to five nesting periods per pair (climate, individual losses, etc. drive this). Elliptical-oval, pure white eggs, averaging 28mm by 21mm. May use other birds' nests (robins, blue jays, English sparrows). 14-15 day incubation period; male incubates mostly during the day, female at night.
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Raising Young: Altricial young, rely on "pigeon milk" (glandular secretions from both parents' crops). Broods raised around one month. Parents either lay another clutch or migrate within a week of young leaving the nest. Juveniles complete feathering in a couple of weeks, then begin migrating in small flocks ahead of older birds. Young do not breed the first year.
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Mortality Factors: Predation, hunting (30-35% fall population loss), accidents, starvation, disease, parasites. 50-70% of both adults and juveniles typically lost annually, most losses occur in nests. Starvation during severe weather. Average life span is 1-1.5 years.
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Habitat Needs: Seeds (native grasses, cultivated grains, forbs like croton and sunflowers), insects (minor). Gravel/grit for seed digestion. Openings among trees and agricultural areas; trees, hedgerows, shrubs, utility wires. Primarily ground feeding on sparse vegetation. Water need is high, but not typically a limiting factor. May fly up to 15 miles to feed in grain fields.
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Management Practices: Adapt to changing land use. Increased weed production (disking), crop residue management (leaving waste grain/stubble). Leaving trees & developing ponds for livestock increases dove habitat. Developing feeding areas (disking, grazing, or burning) is useful. Dove dislikes dense grass, weeds, or brush. Regulation of hunting and bag limits is essential, but success varies regionally.
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Conservation: Mourning doves are unsuitable for game farming or transplanting. Charging hunters & leaving crop residue/waste attract doves. Farm ponds provide feeding and watering areas. Most hunting is done near water holes, weedy (sunflower/croton) fields, or grain fields. Population increase is possible when annual mortality is 50% or less; otherwise, the breeding population decreases. California, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama are high-harvesting dove states.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the mourning dove's physical characteristics, geographic range, migration patterns, and social behavior. This quiz will cover key facts about this unique North American bird and its lifestyle. Perfect for bird enthusiasts and biology students alike!
