It’s a pigeon. An absolutely commonplace, standard issue, run-of-the-mill pigeon.
Even here in SoCal, pigeons are almost everywhere. Go to any shopping mall or apartment complex or school or office building where there are outdoor trash bins, and you’ll find a flock of pigeons. (And probably raccoons, but that’s a different post for a different day.)
“Pigeons are almost everywhere.” “Almost” is the key word. One place I’ve NEVER seen them is in the feeding grounds of our back yard.
You can go back through these posts for the six years and change we’ve lived here and you’ll find LOTS of birds. Especially tons of sparrows, juncos, and most especially, mourning doves. Which is what I though this was at first.
But it was much too big. Probably 25% bigger than the adult mourning doves. At first glance, at the other side of the yard, I thought it might be a juvenile turkey or something else equally exotic. But then it moved over right next to the kitchen and it was crystal clear what it was.
What wasn’t clear is why it’s here. Did they clean up the garbage cans and loading docks down at the local 7-11? Any port in a storm, even if it’s stealing bird seed and sunflowers from mourning doves and house finches, instead of leftover doughnuts?
Welcome, I guess?
We Love The Stars Too Fondly 