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MORNING DOVE
 BIOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MORNING DOVE
TAXONOMY
CLASS: BIRDS
ORDER: COLUMBIFORMES
FAMILY: COLUMBIDAE
GENUS: Zenaida
SPECIES: macroura
THE MORNING DOVES ARE MEDIUM SIZE BIRDS. THEY MEASURE FROM 22.5 TO 36 cm. LONG, WITH A SPREAD OF 142 TO 150 mm. THEIR WEIGHT VARIES IN BETWEEN 96 AND 170 g.
THEY HAVE A LONG AND POINTY TAIL. THE SUPERIOR HEAD FEATHERS, BACK, RUMP, WING COVERS AND CENTER OF THE TAIL ARE BROWN GRAY, WHEREAS THE FLIGHT FEATHERS ARE DARK GRAY. THE SECONDARY ONES ARE MORE INTENSE.
THIS SPECIES POSSESS A BLACK PEAK, RELATIVELY SMALL AND REDDISH LEGS.
THE MALES ARE BIGGER THAN FEMALES AND LIGHTLY MORE BRILLIANT, IN ADDITION MALES DISPLAY A BLUEISH CROWN AND A PINK CHEST (ANIMAL DIVERSITY WEB, 2007)
THEY DISTRIBUTE ONLY IN THE NEARCTIC REGION. THEY HABIT FROM SOUTH CANADA, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND TO SOUTH PANAMA. THE NORTHERN POPULATIONS TEND TO MIGRATE TO THE SOUTH DURING THE WINTER.
IN OUR COUNTRY THEY NEST ABUNDANTLY IN THE NORTH AND CENTRAL REGIONS, FROM BAJA CALIFORNIA TO JALISCO AND HIDALGO, APPEARING BARELY IN OAXACA.
THESE BIRDS ARE VERY ADAPTABLE AND MAY BE FOUND IN A GREAT VARIETY OF HABITATS. THEY ARE VERY COMMON IN FORESTS AND OPEN HOISTED GROUNDS, NEAR PASTURES AND CULTIVE LANDS. THEY ARE MORE ABUNDANT IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS AND SUBURBAN ZONES, WHERE HUMANS HAVE CREATED BIG AREAS OF ADECUATE HABITAT.
MORNING DOVES FEED FROM A GREAT VARIETY OF SEEDS, RESTS OF GRAINS, FRUITS AND INSECTS. THEY OCCASIONALLY EAT FROM TREES AND SHRUBS WHEN FOOD IN THE GROUND IS LITTLE. IN ADDITION THESE DOVES MAY FEED FROM CULTIVES, SPECIALLY ON CEREAL SEEDS LIKE WHEAT, SORGHUM, RYE, BARLEY AND OATS. RARELY THEY CONSUME GRASSHOPPERS, ANTS, BUGS AND SNAILS.
MORNING DOVES MAY REPRODUCE SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE SEASON, DEPENDING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FOOD. THE MATING SEASON IS FROM FEBRUARY TO OCTOBER. GENERALLY EACH FEMALE LAYS AN AVERAGE OF 2 EGGS PER SEASON, WHOSE INCUBATION TIME IS OF 14 DAYS IN AVERAGE. MORNING DOVES REACH REPRODUCTIVE MATURITY AT THEIR 85 DAYS OLD IN AVERAGE (MALES AS FEMALES) (NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION CENTER, 2006).
BECAUSE THEY EAT GRAINS, MORNING DOVES MAY OCCASIONALLY BECOME PLAGUES OF CULTIVES.
THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN HUNTING, SINCE IN NORTH AMERICA ONLY THEY GENERATE A MARKET OF 1.9 MILLION OF CINEGETIC EXCURSIONS (ANIMAL DIVERSITY WEB, 2007).
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SPECIES DATA
COMMON NAME: MORNING DOVE
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Zenaida macroura
TYPE OF GAIN: CINEGETIC
TYPE OF MARKING: HUNTING LICENSE
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BIOLOGICAL EVENTS OF THE MORNING DOVE
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EVENT
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J
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F
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M
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A
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M
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J
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J
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A
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S
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O
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N
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D
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REPRODUCTION OR COURTSHIP
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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NESTING
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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ECLOSION
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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HUNTING SEASON
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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X
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