The Mourning Dove is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. It
ranges from Central America to southern Canada, including offshore
islands. Many individuals in northern areas migrate south to winter
within the breeding range where January temperatures are greater than
minus 12 Celsius (10 F). Habitats include various open and semi-open
environments, including agricultural and urban areas. The species has
adapted well to areas altered by humans. The bird is abundant, with an
estimated population of 130 million birds. In many areas, the Mourning
Dove is hunted as a game bird for both sport and its flesh. Its
plaintive woo-oo-oo-oo call is common throughout its range, as is the
whistling of its wings as it takes flight. The species is a strong
flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mi/h). Mourning Doves are
light gray and brownish and generally muted in color. Males and
females are similar in appearance. The species is generally
monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents care for
the young for a time. Mourning Doves eat mainly seeds, including those
of both native and introduced plants.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_Dove
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1543:
King Henry VIII of England married Catherine Parr, his sixth and
last wife, at Hampton Court Palace.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Parr)
1580:
Ostrog Bible, the first Bible in Old Church Slavonic, was printed in
Ostroh, Ukraine by Ivan Fyodorov.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostrog_Bible)
1806:
Sixteen German imperial states left the Holy Roman Empire and formed
the Confederation of the Rhine.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederation_of_the_Rhine)
1862:
The U.S. Army Medal of Honor was first authorized by the U.S.
Congress.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor)
1975:
São Tomé and Príncipe declared independence from Portugal.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe)
1979:
The Gilbert Islands gained independence and became known as
Kiribati.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiribati)
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Wikiquote of the day:
There will never be a really free and enlightened State until the
State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent
power, from which all its own power and authority are derived, and
treats him accordingly. -- Henry David Thoreau
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau)