Mourning Dove

Scientific Name: Zenaida macroura

Classification: Order: Columbiformes; Family: Columbidae

Mourning Dove

Brief Description

A slender, medium-sized bird with a long, pointed tail. Adults are known for their soft, rhythmic cooing and swift flight; nestlings are distinctive for their scruffy appearance in the nest.

Additional Information

  • Region of Origin: North America, throughout the United States and Canada during the breeding season and south through Mexico and Central America during winter.
  • Typical Sighting Period: Year-round in most of the lower 48 states; migratory in the northernmost parts of its range during summer and early fall.
  • Plumage Details: Adults are grayish-brown with black spots on wings and a pinkish wash on the breast. This image shows squabs (nestlings) with sparse gray down and blue-purple feather sheaths emerging from the skin.
  • Ecological Significance: Significant as a prey species for raptors and a major consumer of weed seeds, assisting in seed dispersal.
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN); population is stable and is one of the most abundant birds in North America.
  • Observation Tips: Easily observed in suburban backyards at bird feeders or perched on telephone wires. Avoid approaching nests too closely to prevent parents from flushing or abandoning the young.

Size & Weight

Length: 9-13 inches (23-34 cm); Wingspan: 17-18 inches (43-45 cm); Weight: 3.4-6.0 oz (96-170 g).

Diet

Primary granivores, eating almost exclusively seeds from weeds, grasses, and grains; they forage on the ground.

Habitat

Open and semi-open habitats, including agricultural fields, suburban gardens, parks, and light woods.

Migration

Partial migrant; northern populations move south for winter, while many southern and central populations are permanent residents.

Voice (Call & Song)

A mournful, soft 'coo-OO-oo-oo-oo' that is often mistaken for an owl.

Nesting & Breeding

Build flimsy stick platforms in trees or bushes; typically lay 2 white eggs. Both parents feed young 'crop milk' for the first few days of life.

Key Field Marks

Slender tail tipped with white, black spots on wings, and a small black spot on the cheek below the eye.

Similar Species

Eurasian Collared-Dove (larger, squared tail, black neck ring) and White-winged Dove (white wing patches).

Interesting Facts

Mourning Doves can survive in desert conditions by drinking brackish water, and they have the ability to store vast amounts of seeds in their crop for later digestion.