I think of wood pigeons saying “My toe hurts, Betty. My toe hurts, Betty”, while collared doves also complain about their painful toes but are too polite to bother Betty with that information.
I hadn’t appreciated how easily a Collared Dove’s call can be confused with that of a Wood Pigeon. I’m good with my visual identification and knowledge of birds, but quite lacking when it comes to birdsong, so thanks for the clarification Charlie. That’s my ‘learn something new’ moment for the day.
Just had a trying time doing our household budget for the month and getting a bit low - this was such a tonic! So soothing and reminds me of lying in the garden with a book with that sound as backing vocals. Thank you!
Isn’t it stunning that a dove’s call is such a strong and widely-shared memory of childhood? Mine was imprinted in Missouri, lying in bed at night at my grandparents’ summer lake cabin, stilled by a haunting coo that emerged from the darkness and deep silence of the woods. It settled into my very being. As an adult, I sat outside with a friend in the high desert of Northern Arizona, challenging ourselves to distinguish the calls of white-winged, mourning, and Eurasian collared doves. Later, during COVID lockdown, I learned to communicate with a pair of white-winged doves who grew accustomed to me as they went about busily, repeatedly breeding.
Speaking of universalities, I imagine the temptation to put music to the jacksnipe’s walk, or that of its cousin here across the pond, the American woodcock, is globally irresistible.
I get such pleasure from these weekly shrieks. As an American, I’m learning to put faces to the names of birds I’ve heretofore only encountered in literature. Thank you so much, Charlie!
I think of wood pigeons saying “My toe hurts, Betty. My toe hurts, Betty”, while collared doves also complain about their painful toes but are too polite to bother Betty with that information.
Oh this is one of my favourite birdsongs.... so soothing!
I hadn’t appreciated how easily a Collared Dove’s call can be confused with that of a Wood Pigeon. I’m good with my visual identification and knowledge of birds, but quite lacking when it comes to birdsong, so thanks for the clarification Charlie. That’s my ‘learn something new’ moment for the day.
Ahh I always get this and the woodpigeon muddled up!
Just had a trying time doing our household budget for the month and getting a bit low - this was such a tonic! So soothing and reminds me of lying in the garden with a book with that sound as backing vocals. Thank you!
Isn’t it stunning that a dove’s call is such a strong and widely-shared memory of childhood? Mine was imprinted in Missouri, lying in bed at night at my grandparents’ summer lake cabin, stilled by a haunting coo that emerged from the darkness and deep silence of the woods. It settled into my very being. As an adult, I sat outside with a friend in the high desert of Northern Arizona, challenging ourselves to distinguish the calls of white-winged, mourning, and Eurasian collared doves. Later, during COVID lockdown, I learned to communicate with a pair of white-winged doves who grew accustomed to me as they went about busily, repeatedly breeding.
Speaking of universalities, I imagine the temptation to put music to the jacksnipe’s walk, or that of its cousin here across the pond, the American woodcock, is globally irresistible.
I get such pleasure from these weekly shrieks. As an American, I’m learning to put faces to the names of birds I’ve heretofore only encountered in literature. Thank you so much, Charlie!