Collared Dove

The doves usually come to the garden in twos. I don't know what has happened to its partner. Perhaps she is sitting on some eggs. (Going by what they were up to on my fence a few weeks back, this wouldn't surprise me. How they managed to stay balanced on the fence I will never understand - it must have been all that wing flapping.)

Interesting facts:

Collared doves have small powder-down feathers. These feathers grow continually and crumble away to produce a white dust. The dust keeps the feathers clean and waterproof.

Collared doves and woodpigeons can suck up water through their beaks like a straw. Other birds have to tilt their heads back to let the water run down their throats.