What bird is this?
May 14, 2016 2:14 PM

What bird is this?

I live in Action, a suburb of Boston in New England and she showed up in my window when I opened the blind to put the air conditioner back in.

I suspect it's a dove but I can't say for sure.
posted by Talez to Pets & Animals (11 answers total) 3 users marked this as a favorite
Mourning dove
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 2:16 PM on May 14, 2016


Agreed -- it's a dove.
posted by gingerbeer at 2:17 PM on May 14, 2016


I've confirmed a clutch of two eggs. Can I put up a feeder close to the nest in the window frame? Or will other birds who venture by make trouble for the eventual chicks?
posted by Talez at 2:18 PM on May 14, 2016


I wouldn't put a feeder anywhere close to the nest.
posted by HuronBob at 2:20 PM on May 14, 2016


I'll put one in a tree nearish the window then. Thanks everyone!
posted by Talez at 2:21 PM on May 14, 2016


Add on: she's a female from what I can see in the image. Males have some pink iridescence on their necks.

Love mourning dove calls!
posted by Gymnopedist at 3:43 PM on May 14, 2016


Love mourning dove calls!
ooOOOooo.. hooo... hooo... hooo. Mourning doves love to eat from platform feeders and the ground.
posted by xyzzy at 6:11 PM on May 14, 2016


ooOOOooo.. hooo... hooo... hooo. Mourning doves love to eat from platform feeders and the ground.

Oh wow! The funny sounds I had been hearing weren't mice! They were the doves taking off and landing!
posted by Talez at 6:27 PM on May 14, 2016


Their mournful calls aren't the only sound they make! Their wings also make a distinctive whistling/twittering sound when they take off/land.
posted by trip and a half at 9:05 PM on May 14, 2016


Birds are used to leaving their nests to find food. They know how to make it work. A large part of making it work is by putting their nests in safe, unnoticeable places.

Security through obscurity. Don't do anything that will increase other bird traffic near that window. Depending on how far the tree is, you might want to put the feeder even further out.
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 11:01 PM on May 14, 2016


oooh put up a dovecam and share the little doveses with us!
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:56 AM on May 15, 2016


« Older Long flight with a baby and toddler alone --...   |   Disabled friend was just assaulted in a store -... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.