The mourning dove, sometimes known as a turtle dove, is pretty common just about anywhere in the US.
They’re incredibly common around here, unlike my mysterious Black Phoebe or the heard-but-never-seen Northern Bobwhite Quail.
I love hearing their calls in the morning, and I usually see them on the wires out front, occasionally in a tree.
This one leapt out at me because, to the best of my recollection (and I’m pretty good about noticing and remembering little details like this), this is the first time I’ve ever seen one down on the ground feeding, and it’s definitely the first time I’ve seen one in the back yard where it’s normally hip deep in finches and mockingbirds.
Timing is everything, I guess.
Wait – cheese it, he’s seen us! Run for your life before it attacks, these things are viscous!!
(No, that’s not a typo. It’s cheap, late, late Saturday night humor.)
We Love The Stars Too Fondly 