This morning we had a larger than usual gathering of mourning doves of 6 – 8
birds. Most of them had a strange tail configuration with the longest white
spine part bare of any growth. Reminded me of the tail of a chicken that
barely escaped a cat in my younger days. But a whole flock in that condition
led to giggles given the visual images of the birds hanging around while the
cat tried again and again or a whole herd of cats ganging up on the flock. As
is usual here, they disappeared at midday and returned about an hour ago. They
seem perfectly healthy and have no apparent problem with flight.
Are these new tail feathers growing in, old ones getting ready to be replaced
or . . . .???? I’ve looked at Sibley, BOGR and Kaufman’s Lives of NA Birds
with no illumination. I tried for photos, but the light was poor and the pesky
things don’t stay still much.
Any suggestions cheerfully accepted and appreciated
Marti (and Lew) Ligocki
South Salem
