Thursday, December 31, 2015

An Uncommon Commoner

30 December 2015

     One of the very common birds in Ontario is Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura. Common it may be, but it is uncommonly beautiful and worthy of our attention.


     This individual was perched on the edge of the bird bath yesterday where the water was frozen. Winter has been exceedingly mild until a few days ago, but we are finally getting a little of the kind of weather we should be getting at this time of the year. 
     Mourning Doves will cope with winter, although in severely cold weather they sometimes get frost bitten toes. 
     This one seems to have the right kind of attitude to tackle whatever winter brings!


     Perhaps it will stay around to breed and bring its young to our yard. We will look forward to spring together.
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

27 comments:

  1. Lovely Mourning Dove, I wish you and family a beautiful new year 2016.

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  2. Hi David, I enjoyed your photos, info and stories in 2015. Thanks for that and your visits and comments on my blog. For 2016, I wish you, your wife Miriam and those you love a happy and especially healthy year. Regards Jan W

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  3. Stunning captures David.
    Happy New Year to you both.
    John and Sue.

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  4. I love these beautiful photos !!
    Happy New Year !!

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  5. We neglect to pay much attention to our common Collared Dove too. It is equally beautiful. In the next day or two I am going to place a wall hanging basket in the crown of our apple tree. The basket is designed for flowers but the doves have used it in previous years.

    Cheers David. Have a glass of Canadian Club with me as I sample a Famous Grouse.

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    Replies
    1. Beautiful pictures, we have the same birds, so far from you in Flanders, Belgium.
      Is it very cold in Canada? Here we have no winter at all.
      http://maria-fotoblog.blogspot.be/

      I have more than one blog.
      Have a nice day
      MaRia

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    2. Actually Maria, Mourning Dove is found only in the Americas, but you certainly have similar species such as Eurasian Collared Dove which Phil refers to above. Thanks for visiting.

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  6. Hello David, first I want to wish you and your loved ones a Happy New Year, with good health. I also are happy to have found your blog and hope this new year will bring lots of new discoveries for you to enjoy.
    And indeed lets hope things will turn out better for the old continent Europe and the rest of the world.
    Your friend Roos

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  7. Feliz 2016!!! Un fuerte abrazo amigo.

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  8. Bonjour David,
    Merveilleuses photos de cette petite tourterelle. Ses couleurs sont très jolies.
    Très bonne année David.

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  9. Très jolis portraits. Commune certes, mais tellement gracieuse.
    Merci et bonne année 2016

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  10. Great shots.. I wish you a wonderful New Year !! :-)))

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  11. Hello David,
    Beautiful series of photographs of the Dove.
    Perfect photographed, my compliments.
    I wish you and all your loved ones very happy, but above all a healthy 2016.
    Best regards, Irma

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  12. Hi David. I hope your 2016 has got off to a good start. Like yours, our weather has turned a little colder, with 1st January bringing the first overnight frost since November - although it was all gone by 10h00. The frost did bring us some good birds, however, with a small group (6) of Lesser Redpoll, and a lone male Siskin.

    Looking forward to meeting up again next year. Our best wishes to you both - - Richard

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  13. You have this really beautiful dove put in the picture. The color and the feathers are very beautiful. Very nicely done :-)

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  14. Gorgeous images of the Dove. Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  15. Oh that second picture is wonderful the way it shows those beautiful ruffled feathers. We have them here in Florida too ... The ones who fly south I guess! They are our morning wake up call on days when we're able to leave a window open ... So much better than an old alarm clock!

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  16. Hey David,
    Your second shot is a very funny picture. So nice!!

    That crested tit in my last blogpost was flying in the wild. I saw him there while walking through the park.

    Greetings, Marco

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  17. Muito bonitas as fotos da pomba!
    Feliz Ano Novo com muita saúde, David!
    Abraços!

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  18. Beautiful images, David. I have seen them, but like many pigeons and doves, they've been wary, so no good images!

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  19. Great idea and it looks fun and interesting at the same time. Regards.

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  20. Very nice images of the dove, the soft light is the best for me.
    Where I live there are a species of the same genus, Z. auriculata,a very very common bird, in parks are too easy to photograph them, I have lots of images
    Saludos

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  21. Lovely captures of this dove. I believe we don't have this type in our country. I wonder how it gets the moniker "mourning".

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