Bird watchers. I took these pictures of a Mourning Dove. He was one among several normal doves.?

Question

Has anyone seen anything like this or knows what might have caused it? Sorry about the pictures, he was trying hard to hide in the plants.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnh6246/1333415591/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnh6246/1333413697/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnh6246/1333426263/

humor, Thanks for the answer, but he is a wild dove. I doubt that I will ever see him again.

Answer 1

Humor, this dove's eyes are wide awake. I see no dischange around the ceres and no dove would produce enough discharge to make its back and wing feathers look like that.

It's wing/back looks like it must have been bare at some time or another, and the feather quills are starting to grow back. Same thing for its head. My guess is it got attacked by something or injured in some way, and now it is just recovering. Trust me, I've had injured birds before.
If it was infested with feather lice, mites, etc., badly enough, it could cause feather damage, and give the bird problems re-growing feathers. I doubt this is the problem, for wild doves and pigeons keep themselves very clean, so they wouldn't normally have a big problem with bugs. Another thing, is wild doves also have a very good immune system compared to domesticated ones. They are built to live in harsh conditions whether it be rain, sleet, snow, hail, or droughts - so the likelihood of a wild mourning dove getting a upper respiretory infection isn't very likely.

Hope that helped :]
- Becky

Answer 2

Were you able to pick the bird up and take it into your home? Bathing it gently in warm (not hot) water can aid in discomfort. Look through his/her feathers for a red colored fly. These flies litterally suck the life out of Pigeons/Doves. If the Dove has these parasites, you will have to take each one off of the bird, gently, to avoid shocking the little bird. Of course, use gloves, or tweezers (gently), or even a dinner fork placed gently under the area where the fly is located, will lift the fly off of the bird.

Wrap the Dove in a towel (not the head...it hs to breathe) to keep it warm and from going into shock. Putting the bird near a heater...in the towel, may also help revive him/her. This will also help if the bird has a slight cold, too.

He does look either like a young Dove that got away from its mother too soon. It also looks as though the Dove was exposed to the elements too long.

Answer 3

The dove is showing typical signs of upper respiratory. The bulging eyes, the nasal discharge etc. You can also tell that it's been trying to wipe the discharge on it's feathers on the side of it's head and under it's wings.

No this is not normal and if it isn't helped, and gotten to a wild life rehabber, this morning dove will succumb to death within a few days.

Answer 4

Looks like some sort of injury, disease or infection. Poor fella.. I love all the pictures you post though - it's nice to see that people still revel in life's little joys (birds, of course!)

Answer 5

I think I know... I had a Mamma bird do that to one of her babies because it was time to leave the nest and she was tired of feeding him. For real. Once they get so big.. it comes down to mouths to feed and she is usually worn out and hungry :o/. Looks to me like another animal took a bite out of him.

Answer 6

Looks like maybe he was hit by a car or something. Poor thing.