Sharing is Loving
by Linda Brody
Title
Sharing is Loving
Artist
Linda Brody
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Two Mourning Doves sharing/loving. Note their eyes are closed. Shot in the late afternoon.
This may be a shot of a part of the mating ritual, referred to as Billing.
Preening around the bill will soon become "billing" where the two doves nibble each other's bill. The male will open his bill for the female to mimic the feeding ritual. He will raise his head and neck up and down a few times to regurgitate a small amount of food from his crop which the females will partake during the "billing" ritual as she inserts her bill into the males mouth, sometimes, very deeply and aggressively while wobbling her wings like a baby bird, which she will do each time she wants the male to allow her to partake food from his mouth. This is a very personal and sensual ritual for the doves. If the female is close to egg gestation, she will become very aggressive in her advances and billing. During the normal billing, it is common for both doves to pause to preen their feathers. In this way, they are preparing the feathers for the mating. If the vent or tail feathers clump or get in the way, the mating will be unsuccessful. The wing feathers must not have any problems while the male is fluttering his wings to maintain his balance. When the female is ready, she will crouch down low and flatten her body to allow the male to mount. He may stop to preen just before mounting her.
This photograph has been featured in the following Groups:
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#sharing, #loving, #love birds, #kissing, #mourning doves, #doves, #two doves, #doves sharing, #mating, #lovebirds, #inlove,
Uploaded
May 14th, 2016
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