The Mourning Dove is the most slender of Washington's pigeons
and doves. It has a long tail that tapers to a point. Its
plumage is brownish gray with a buff-colored belly and wings of
light gray. The beak is black, and the legs are orange. Adults
have black spots on their wings and a slight iridescence at the
nape of the neck. The black eye is surrounded by a light blue
eye-ring. Juveniles look much like adults, but their plumage is
lightly mottled. Mourning Doves are found in a variety of
habitats where open areas and forests meet. They are common in
suburban environments and along roadsides, both of which
traditionally provide edge habitat. They adapt well to human
habitation and thrive in grain-producing fields of eastern
Washington. Mourning Doves forage mostly on the ground, visit
bird feeders, and often roost on telephone or power lines. In
July and August before migration, they form post-breeding
flocks. The Mourning Dove produces a mournful hooting, which is
often mistaken for an owl. Seeds make up 99