That is a fledgling Mourning Dove. Too early to tell whether it's a male or female...but both parents care for their young...and are mated for life. One usually sits with the young during the day while the other goes food shopping. When the "shopping" parent returns...he/she feeds the fledgling and the parent who sat all day long...goes off for the night...usually returning very early in the morning to relieve the sitting parent. The fact that there's no adult with this fledgling says one of two things. One...the fledgling is old enough to be on his/her own. Or two...the fledgling...while learning to fly...has gotten himself/herself into a real pickle. My bet is that he's on his own...but I'm saying that with very little evidence other than my personal observations around my own home. Mourning doves are renowned for making very flimsy nests...or renting an existing nest...or laying their eggs on the ground in a seemingly secure area. If this area in your yard is sheltered and relatively safe...it wouldn't be at all unusual for the female to use it as her nesting area. She usually lays two eggs...and can lay twice a year...depending on your geographic area. Definitely...if you are able...protect the area from cats. This fledgling is developed enough to fly...but not with the strength or reactive time of an adult dove. Beyond that...just keep an eye out for a returning parent....either at dusk or dawn. You may get a pleasant surprise. HTH Anne

We camped at the Ortona Locks outside of Labelle last year. There was a pair of these Shrikes working our campsite every evening. For a small bird they were quite the predators, dragonflies and small lizards were on the menu and yes they did pin them on the small tree branches.

For the birds, though, whenever I comb my cats, I pull the fur off the brush and put it outside. One time I found a bird nest and it was lined with my cat's fur. :)

Thanks, Old Forester! I thought #7 was a catbird given the color (and I could hear a few in the park ). I hadn't see a mockingbird this year in DC till this one. #5, 6, 9 were all foraging on the ground and there were several of them in mixed flocks with the mourning doves. The beaks of all three and the colors on 5 - I was hoping they were some kind of grosbeaks. Thanks again!