Friday, May 6, 2011

Tail-less Mourning Dove

A Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), sans tail, has been in the area for a week or so.  I know little about their moults - how many per year or when; they always have their lovely new breeding plumage by the time they arrive up here in the Spring - such as this handsome, long-tailed fellow.  (click on pix for larger and clearer, if you want)


This one, however, has no tail feathers (or retrices)


Are those pin feathers?


Yes, they are - these pix were taken several hours later in the evening



Following morning photos



Haven't seen this bird in the past few days.  I hope it comes back.  I want to see how the new feathers look.

No comments:

Post a Comment