Young Mourning Doves

This photo of recently fledged mourning doves was made while mowing the front yard. I had been surprised to see an adult mourning dove flush from the field near this spot--surprised that it had waited until I was so close before taking off. It seemed strange. Mourning doves do not usually nest on the ground, so it would not likely have been protecting a nest.

I returned to cutting the grass, when in the shade of a small hackberry sapling I stumbled about these two little fellows. They did not fly away, apparently being not quite ready. Just out of the nest and waiting on that last bit of development. So this is what the mama dove was hanging in so close over.

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