Two doves: One native, one an intruder

We have two types of doves in north-central Washington: Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared-Dove.

- By Bruce McCammon

I hope this article helps you keep them straight.

The native Mourning Dove is one of the most commonly seen birds across the United States. It helps that they come to backyard bird feeders.

They can be observed Bruce McCammon in most open is retired, colorblind and enjoys habitats photographing the including birds in north-central Washington. forests, farmlands and suburbs. They are frequently seen sitting on overhead wires or on the ground where they pick up seeds and rocks to aid with digestion.

They may produce up to six broods of young each year, more than any other native bird species. They can also be long-lived. The oldest documented Mourning Dove was over 30 years old when it was killed.

The Mourning Dove is a gray-brown, medium-sized bird measuring about 12 inches in length. They have slender tails, small, rounded heads and a prominent white eye-ring.