Habitat and Behavior During Winter
I first noticed a large gathering of lovebirds under my bird feeder at the beginning of winter. I often see pairs throughout the year, but this was the first time I can remember seeing a flock of more than 15 birds. It was interesting to watch them eat together and fight over food. They feed on the ground. So, when I fill the bird feeder with water, I remember to sprinkle some on the ground for the lovebirds. I will leave enough for the black-browed jungle finch. It migrates south from its Canadian nesting grounds every winter. Carolina pigeons are widespread across the continent and are welcome in our yards. They prefer open areas, especially forest edges, grasslands, and gardens. In winter, they seek shelter from the cold and snow in the woods. They are widespread and have an estimated population of 350 million in the United States. Hunters in 41 states target them as the most popular game bird in the country.
Graceful Mourning Doves
They are not hunted in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. The Turtle Dove has light brown plumage with black spots on its wings. Its tail has a white tip edged with black. Males and females look the same. The male has a pinkish chest and a grayish crown. They are often seen sitting on telephone lines. About the size of a robin, they have a graceful appearance and a slender tail with a small head. They burst into flight, shooting forward in a direct line. Their heads are high, and their wings make a faint whistling sound. There is nothing more beautiful than the gentle sound of the mourning dove. Their plaintive, sad cry gives them their name (not the morning, but the time of day). Their solitary cry “ooaah, coo, coo, coo” is often confused with the cry of an owl. Males produce intense calls to attract females during reproductive cycles. He chooses a place to build a nest, perches on a horizontal branch, and emits short calls to attract the female. He also provides nesting material, giving some to the female so that she can build the nest. He stands next to her, or sometimes on her back, passing the stick over her shoulder. She weaves the nesting material together to create a shallow nest about 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter.
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- The nest is usually in the dense foliage of evergreen plants’ flat branches.
- In a loose manner, it constructs itself with pine needles, twigs, and grass.
- Wait, there is an adverb “loose” in the output; let me correct it:
- Sparse pine needles, twigs, and grasses intertwine to construct it.
- A clutch usually has two eggs. The incubation period is 14 days, and the nesting period is 12 to 15 days. Carolina pigeons can lay up to six eggs per year.
Winter Habits of Chain Pigeons
Seeds make up about 99 percent of the chain pigeon’s diet. In some cases, animals break down berries and consume snails. They search on the ground, rooting out seeds in dense bushes. The bird stores swallowed seeds in an expanded esophagus or crop. They take flight to a secure location to break down their food. The parents feed the chicks “pigeon milk.” It’s a nutritious white liquid made from seeds they regurgitate. We have seen a flock of spotted pigeons almost daily this winter. They sleep together in a tree above our backyard and roam the neighborhood looking for food. If you don’t have any birds in your yard, it’s a good sign that your bird feeders need refilling. Millets are always a good choice for them. We experienced our first nor’easter storm this winter that dumped about 2 feet of snow on many of us. High winds have pushed snowdrifts ever higher up the stone wall of our house and the sides of the barn. I have anticipated the weather and filled the feeders with water.
In the Last Green Valley
Caring for Winter Birds in the Last Green Valley
I refilled them after the storm and left many on the ground (or in the snowpack). Turtle doves and other winter birds hide in the white pines between our properties. I remember to refill the feeders with water in the morning. I also leave plenty on the floor for the turtle doves. It’s still winter, and breeding season is still a few months away. We live in a beautiful place called the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. Please join us in caring for, enjoying, and preserving this work. This column uses: The Stokes Guide to Bird Behavior Vol. II by Donald and Lilliam Stokes, The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley. And, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website.
