Bird Watching: "dove in mourning?"

Is the mourning dove actually in mourning?

For the last few days a dove has been dominating the feeder. Alone. They usually travel in pairs and I've photographed groups of four to eight doves many times in the past while they rested inside the sheltering boughs of my blue spruce.

Today is the third day in a row this solitary mourning dove has visited, and stayed for an hour or more in the middle of the feeder, so I now wonder if its mate has disappeared due to the cold or predation. (A month ago I spotted a cat prowling in the spruce branches outside my window).

I'll keep watch.

Photos by GH

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