Library #19 · A Backyard · Wave 2

Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura · Columbidae

Soft coo-OO-oo-oo song sounds mournful — hence the name.

At a glance

Size: 9–13 in
Wingspan: 17–18 in
Habitat: Open country, suburbs, farms, wires
Diet: Seeds almost exclusively

Range: Nearly all of the lower 48 and into Canada/Mexico

Nesting: Loose platform of twigs in a tree, shrub, or ledge; multiple broods.

Coloring pose idea: Pair on utility wire / slim nest on ledge

Hear this bird

General call / song: Mournful cooing; wing whistle in flight.

Mating / display: Male’s coo song from a perch; bowing display with puffed chest.

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Play calls on All About Birds Species overview Audubon field guide

How to know it

Tan-brown, long pointed tail with white tips, small head.
Black spots on wings; soft pinkish wash below.
Wings whistle on takeoff.

Behavior

Builds a flimsy twig platform nest.
Both parents produce crop milk for squabs.
One of the most abundant birds in North America.

Fun facts

Can drink by suction — unusual among birds.
May nest almost year-round in warm climates.
Popular gamebird with carefully managed seasons.

Companion page for the Birds Coloring Calendar series by R. J. D. B. Fact summaries are original educational text or short paraphrases with source links. Call playback via link to All About Birds / Cornell Lab. Re-test QR codes on a phone before final print. Not affiliated with Cornell Lab or Audubon.