Two Incas.

I wonder why we don't have ring necked doves down here in central Texas. Hmm......interesting. They're so pretty!

Melanie

Deb, I have been studying your Ringed Dove picture. I am not certain but I think you have a picture of a Eurasian Collared...and one flying away. ;o) I cannot tell exactly how big they are so, I will ask. Are they larger or smaller than a Mourning? If they are larger, they most definately are Collared Doves. There other ways to tell the difference, too but, size is a good one.

Kim

Great photos everyone!

Trois, your red bird is a wonderful and beautiful bird!

We just get the Mourning Doves here.

I like Debnes live in FW and we have Rock Doves, or did have. I haven't seen any the last two years in my yard. Could be West Nile has taken a hit on them? I know the Blue Jays had thinned out, but are making a come back here.

This is the first year I have seen the white-winged doves here.

Here is a collared dove.

another collared, close-up.

Gardenpom, that's such a cutie pie picture of your collard, aww what a face!!

Ya know Kim..These Doves are enormous... about twice the size of the Mourning Dove..
Seems they are very close by comparison.. 2 of my books (Nat.Geographic, & Kaufman's says they both get 12-12 1/2".. Guess it is really hard to tell...Another thing it mentions is the RNTurtle is less black under. The Collard more profoundly black.

LOL You are so right, Deb. It is very difficult to tell the two doves apart. That is why I studied your photo before saying anything. ;o) Did you know that many newer bird books no longer recognize the Ringneck Turtle Dove or they are just called Ringnecks. The only reason that I can find...The turtle doves were favorite cage birds and many escaped so, they are not considered "true area birds". Go figure.

Kim

Alright....am I wrong when I'm thinking that a Rock Dove is actually a pigeon? Or did I imagine that...lol

Melanie :)

I had forgotten that I had this photo of a White Wing Dove that literally fell out of the sky last Summer. Some of ya'll may have seen it posted over in Texas Gardening. I'm still not quite sure what happened to this little guy/girl...but it died soon after I took this photo. Some DG'rs suggested that perhaps she/he had hit an electric line, since its chest was bare of feathers. It seemed stunned and couldn't walk...so I let it be and kept things quiet around it. But it died about 20 minutes after I took this photo. Just a real heartbreaker.. :(

Melanie

Melanie your correct doves are a kind of Pidgeon, so the Rock Dove is a Pidgeon... I received the wonderful seeds, I hope you will be as delighted as I am. You're a sweetheart!!..Thank you!!

Not sure if i want to say what I think could have happend to the sweet dove there Mel, but AWWW!!

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Here is a shot for comparison between Mourning and RNT Dove.. :-D

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What we generally refer to as "pigeons" (Columba livia) are "rock doves"--or, semi-domesticated descendants of the rock dove. There are native species of pigeons in North America, too, e.g., band-tailed pigeons. In their native habitat in Europe, rock doves are associated with cliffs--which explains the attraction to buildings, niches, palm fronds, and other flattish surfaces. A pigeon is a dove; a dove is a pigeon. ;-) The terms are interchangeable but the term "pigeon" is more often applied to larger doves.

Melanie,
The white-winged dove in your pic is a juvenile--and has a spinal injury. It suffered an impact with something--possibly a utility wire. :(

This message was edited Jan 13, 2007 3:50 PM

Today with the dropping temps and the rain, the doves were monopolizing the feeder. At one time there were 7 on the feeder! I am not sure what the load limit is!

This new feeder was puzzling to the Doves. They couldn't figure out how to get to the seeds in it.

Sheila,

What they need is a feeder that has plenty of space for them to sit on and eat. We have an older house feeder that has wide perches. (Can't find it anymore, sorry to say).

Here is a pic that shows it. If I can find a photo showing Mourning Doves on it, I post it. This photo has a Chickadee on it.

Marilyn

Sheila,

Here is a closeup of the same photo, so you can see it better.

Sheila,

The Cardinals and Blue Jays, being larger birds too, like it because they have space on it to perch and eat.

Yes, I am sure they would love that Marylin, but with two cats and two dogs in and out between the shop and the house, I don't want to encourage ground feeding. What I had done, as in this pic, is spread seeds on the deck railing on that side of the deck where the new feeder was. Trust me, they aren't starving! LOL!

LOL Sheila!

If you're interested, safflower seed is much favored by white-winged doves. :)

That maybe why they were eyeing the new feeder, it has some safflower seed mixed in with it. I will dip some out for them tomorrow. Thanks

I posted this photo over in the feeder forum and thought that it would be appropriate here as well, lol. I love the way that this rascally squirrel is giving me a hand at feeding my little flock of white wing doves...lol. You can't see them, but there about 10 more doves in the bird bath. I have alot of them visit my wee yard! :)

Melanie

I noticed the same thing, not enough room for doves to perch on my cheaper feeders.. So 2 things can be done which have worked for me..
Dowel pin.. at least 3/8 of an inch in diameter. Cut them about 3 1/4 in. long. Drill 3 - 4 3/8" holes and glue the dowels in with waterproof glue.

A quicker fix is to buy those cheap straight door stops that screw in.. Drill a small pilot hole and just screw them in tightly with a dab of glue on the screw part.

I need to do that! Great idea Debnes. I have some of those door stops in the shop I think.