FEBRUARY I MARCH 2021 birdsandblooms.com 31
Taking Care
This mated pair of
mourning doves preens
each other’s feathers
in an endearing gesture
many birders witness.
1
Not all birds breed every season.
Competition for food, territory
and nesting sites is fierce, so when
individuals are unable to secure the
necessities, they miss the opportunity
to find a mate and raise a family.
2
Courtship feeding behaviors are
more than kind gestures. When a
male feeds a female, it’s typically
his way of proving that he is capable of
providing for her and their future young.
Look for this common ritual in your
yard among northern cardinals, cedar
waxwings and tufted titmice.
3
When you hear a singing bird in
spring, it’s likely a male trying
to grab the attention of a female.
When a female’s interest is piqued by the
tune, she checks out the male’s plumage
to determine whether he has desirable
genes and then explores his territory.
If she likes what she sees, she’ll choose
that male as her mate.
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CINDY
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