Mourning Dove Bird Facts (Zenaida macroura)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Mourning Dove is a slender, medium-sized bird with a small, rounded head and a long, tapered tail. Its plumage is primarily soft gray-brown, with black spots on the wings and pinkish-gray underparts. The tail features white edges and a pointed tip.

Both sexes look similar, with males slightly larger and more colorful, sometimes with a more blueish crown. Juveniles resemble adults but have a scaly appearance due to pale feather edges. There are no significant seasonal plumage changes.

Size

Length

23cm to 34cm

Wingspan

37cm to 45cm

Weight

86g to 170g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour

Black White

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Mourning Dove can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Mourning Dove can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Mourning Dove is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Mourning Dove is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Mourning Dove can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Mourning Dove can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Mourning Dove can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Mourning Dove is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Mourning Dove is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Mourning Dove is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Mourning Dove is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Mourning Dove is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Mourning Doves are widely distributed across North and Central America, from southern Canada to Panama. They inhabit a variety of open and semi-open environments, including urban areas, farmlands, grasslands, and open woodlands.

In the United States, they are year-round residents in most areas, with northern populations migrating south for winter. They are common in suburban and rural areas throughout the country, adapting well to human-modified landscapes.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Mourning Dove. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Belize Bermuda Canada Cayman Islands Colombia Cuba Dominican Republic El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Mexico Nicaragua Panama Puerto Rico The Bahamas Turks and Caicos

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Jamaica United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Costa Rica

Species that pass through the area during migration

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Greenland The United Kingdom

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

Mourning Doves are highly agile birds, capable of swift, direct flight with sharp turns. Their strong flying abilities and quick head movements whilst foraging demonstrate excellent manoeuvrability.

Strength 40

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Whilst not particularly strong compared to larger birds, Mourning Doves possess moderate strength. They can carry seeds weighing up to 20% of their body weight in their crop, indicating a decent strength-to-size ratio.

Adaptability 90

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These birds show remarkable adaptability, thriving in various habitats from sea level to 2,500 metres. Their ability to live in urban, suburban, and rural environments across a wide geographic range demonstrates high adaptability.

Aggressiveness 20

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Mourning Doves are generally peaceful birds, often seen in pairs or small flocks. They're not known for aggressive behaviour, preferring to flee from threats rather than confront them.

Endurance 75

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Their ability to migrate long distances, produce multiple broods in a season, and their widespread distribution suggest good endurance. Their capacity to store large quantities of food quickly also contributes to their stamina.

Diet

Mourning Doves primarily feed on seeds, which make up about 99% of their diet. They consume a variety of seeds from grasses, weeds, and cultivated grains, including sunflowers, corn and wheat.

These birds can quickly fill their crop with seeds, often ingesting up to 20% of their body weight in a single feeding session.

Behaviour

Mourning Doves are often seen foraging on the ground, pecking for seeds with quick head movements. They are strong fliers, capable of swift, direct flight with occasional sharp turns.

These birds are typically found in pairs or small flocks, and they often gather at bird feeders or water sources.

Vocalisation

The Mourning Dove's call is a distinctive, soft, drawn-out cooing sound often described as "oo-AH-oo-oo-oo." or "coo-ing". This melancholic call gives the species its common name. Males also produce a loud, whirring sound with their wings during courtship flights.

Nesting & Breeding

Mourning Doves form monogamous pairs that often stay together for multiple breeding seasons. Their breeding period varies by location but generally occurs from spring to fall in North America.

Nests are simple platforms of twigs, typically built in trees or on man-made structures. Females usually lay two white eggs per clutch. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 14 days.

Nestlings are altricial and develop rapidly, fledging after about 12-14 days. Parents continue to care for fledglings for up to two weeks after they leave the nest. Mourning Doves can produce multiple broods in a single season.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While Mourning Doves are currently listed as Least Concern, they face threats from habitat loss and hunting pressure in some areas.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable habitats and monitoring population trends to ensure their continued abundance.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

475,000,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Rain Dove, Turtle Dove

Family:

Columbidae

Average Lifespan

1 to 5 years

Max Lifespan

31.3 years ^[4]

Predators

Mourning Doves face predation from various animals, including hawks, falcons, owls, cats, and snakes. Ground-nesting doves are particularly vulnerable to mammalian predators.

Did You Know?

Mourning Doves can drink water without lifting their head, unlike most birds.
They have the ability to store seeds in an enlarged crop, allowing them to eat large quantities quickly.
Mourning Doves are one of the most widely hunted game birds in North America.

FAQs

Are mourning doves always in pairs?

Mourning doves are commonly seen in pairs during the breeding season. They will join up to form large flocks in the fall and at other times of the year, however.

Do mourning doves sleep on the ground?

Mourning doves usually roost in trees, bushes, and other elevated positions. They will sleep on the ground in very open environments, however.

References

1 3
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Zenaida macroura. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22690736A95215602.
View source
2
report, 1994: Mirarchi, R.E., and Baskett, T.S. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). In The Birds of North America, No. 117 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, DC: The American Ornithologists' Union.
4
website: Longevity Records Of North American Birds. Version 2023.1
View source