Mourning Dove / Zenaida macroura

This summer, I came across a family of Mourning Doves when I was driving the backroads, SW of Calgary. This was the first time I'd ever seen a family of them. Photo taken on 31 July 2013. They sound almost like a distant owl.

"The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family (Columbidae). The bird is also called the Turtle Dove or the American Mourning Dove or Rain Dove, and formerly was known as the Carolina Pigeon or Carolina Turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also the leading gamebird, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years) shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and for meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure stems from its prolific breeding: in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods a year. Its plaintive woo-OO-oo-oo-oo call gives the bird its name. The wings can make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing. The bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph)." From Wikipedia.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_Dove