Mourning Dove male in July – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Worldwide doves symbolize peace and I felt that I could use a little of that feeling this morning so I decided to share some Mourning Dove images I took two days ago in northern Utah.
This male Mourning Dove was perched on some barbed wire near a corral at the edge of the road and when I saw it I knew I wanted to stop and take some photos of him. The light was nice and the bird seemed cooperative.
Male Mourning Dove on a summer morning – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The grass, sage and rabbitbrush dotted hillside in the distance gave me a varied background that the dove stood out well from. These are all simple photos but they do show the views I see of this species most often. Sometimes simple conveys all I wanted to show in a photo.
Mourning Doves are plentiful throughout the U.S., southern Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean but their numbers have been declining.
Male Mourning Dove perched on a barbed wire fence – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I still see plenty of Mourning Doves at home and in the field but perhaps not nearly as many as I saw when I first moved to Utah.
When I see these doves in the field they are usually perched on fences along side the roads I travel on and when I can I will always try to photograph them.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mourning Dove photos plus facts and information about this species.
Their subtle color and iridescence is lovely and overlooked. Very peaceful photos.
These are lovely photographs of an oft-overlooked bird. I’m fortunate to have several in my neighborhood and a giant liquid amber tree in which they like to perch and eat the seeds. My next door neighbors are the lucky ones who get the nests.
What a subtle and elegant charmer. Reading James’ comments the mourning part of their name seems entirely appropriate – though I suspect it relates to the mournful sound of their call.
They seem to have an aura of gentleness, calm and peace about them. They could be an example for “homo sapiens “.
I’ve always found it so ironic that this bird of peace has to be among the most hunted creatures in all of North America — house cats wandering the neighborhood, free roaming feral cats, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, assorted birds of prey (falcons, hawks, owls), and all those people with dove hunting permits (and no doubt many without). What other animal has an average life span so short, not even 2 years, and yet, if they can somehow make it past all those trying to kill it, can live to be 30 in the wild? It’s no wonder they can be so skittish.
I just love these. Love the colors of Mourning Doves and their morning cooing. Thank you.
Nice