Community Corner
Puffed-Up Mourning Dove In San Juan Capistrano: Photo Of The Day
This mourning dove was in the middle of a mid-morning puff when resident photographer Kristine Erickson snapped him with her camera.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — Can you hear the birds singing, San Juan Capistrano? Resident photographer Kristine Erickson sure can. Erickson snapped this shot of a mourning dove in the middle of a mid-morning puff Monday, and we at Patch think this little guy is doing a great job ruffling his own feathers.
Erickson saw the mourning dove in her backyard at around 10 a.m. According to Erickson, plenty of birds make their homes in her backyard trees. Erickson said the tree that this mourning dove was shot on is also the home to hummingbirds.
However, the question remains: why so puffy? Apparently, one of the reasons male mourning doves puff up their chest feathers is to attract females in the early spring season. Considering that we are approaching the winter season, it may be safe to assume that this particular mourning dove was just saying "hello."
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