A few minutes ago I observed a puffed-up, presumably male Mourning Dove
pecking at the head of another. The pecked-on bird was scrunched down,
making itself as low as possible, and also tried to slip under the
aggressive bird, which didn't seem to want that. After a couple of minutes
the submissive bird ran away, chased by Mr. Big.
Is this typical Mourning Dove behavior? Was I simply seeing rough foreplay,
or was this an attack? It was very unpleasant to watch, and I was about to
go downstairs and intervene when the birds left.
Pat Valdata
Elkton, MD
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