A slender tan dove with pointed tail, gray-brown body, and soft "coo-AHH-coo, coo-coo" mournful call. Among the most abundant landbirds in North America.

Also called: Carolina Pigeon, Turtle Dove (American usage), Rain Dove

Native status: Native; widespread

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 23–34 cm (9–13.5 in); wingspan 37–45 cm
Weight96–170 g (3.4–6 oz)
LifespanWild typically 1–2 years (high turnover); oldest documented 30+
OrderColumbiformes
FamilyColumbidae

§ Encyclopedia

The mourning dove is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. The bird is also known as the American mourning dove, the rain dove, the chueybird, and colloquially as the turtle dove, and it was once known as the Carolina pigeon and Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread North American birds and a popular gamebird, with more than 20 million birds shot annually in the U.S., both for sport and meat. Its ability to sustain its population under such pressure is due to its prolific breeding; in warm areas, one pair may raise up to six broods of two young each in a single year. The wings make an unusual whistling sound upon take-off and landing, a form of sonation. The bird is a strong flier, capable of speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph).

Source: Wikipedia — Mourning dove Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Slender soft tan dove with small head, long pointed tail, black spots on wings; pinkish wash on body; black "tear drop" mark below eye.

Similar species. Eurasian Collared-Dove (larger, square tail, black neck band). White-winged Dove (white wing patch). Common Ground-Dove (tiny, scaled appearance).

Voice. Mournful "coo-OO-oo, coo-coo-coo" — often mistaken for an owl. Wing whistle on takeoff.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Seeds (~99% of diet) — millet, sunflower, corn, weed seeds, especially small seeds gathered from ground.

Behavior. Most-hunted game bird in North America — ~20 million harvested annually, yet population remains stable around 350 million due to high reproductive output (multiple broods of 2 squabs per year). Both parents produce "crop milk" — a nutritious secretion from the crop lining — fed to nestlings for first week. Distinctive whistled wing sound during takeoff is a structural sound from primary feathers, not a vocalization.

§ Range

Across most of North America

§ Habitat

Open and semi-open habitats: fields, suburbs, parks

§ Threats

Vehicle strikes, outdoor cat predation, lead shot toxicity in some areas.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the mourning dove is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Skip lead shot. Drive carefully. Keep cats indoors.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Cornell Lab — All About Birds
  • USFWS Migratory Bird Program
  • National Audubon Society
  • IUCN Red List 2018