Pigeons and doves (Columbidae)
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura. Almost entirely seeds, taken on the ground.
Pigeons and doves (Columbidae)Mourning DoveZenaida macroura
- Scientific name
- Zenaida macroura
- Length
- 9–13.4 in
- Weight
- 3.4–6 oz
- Nest
- Flimsy twig platform in trees, shrubs, gutters or ledges
- Entrance hole
- Does not use nest boxes
- Clutch
- 2 eggs
- Incubation
- 14 days
- Broods
- Up to 5–6 per season in the south
Identification
- Soft tan-grey with black spots on the wings
- Long pointed tail with white edges
- Small head and dark eye with blue eye-ring
Voice
Soft, mournful 'coo-OO-oo-oo-oo'; wings whistle on takeoff.
Diet and feeding
Almost entirely seeds, taken on the ground.
What do mourning doves eat? · Best feeder for mourning doves
Mourning Doves by state and province
| Region | Status | Nesting |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Alberta | Summer breeder | April–September |
| Arizona | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Arkansas | Year-round resident | March–September |
| British Columbia | Summer breeder | April–September |
| California | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Colorado | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Connecticut | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Delaware | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Florida | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Georgia | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Idaho | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Illinois | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Indiana | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Iowa | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Kansas | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Kentucky | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Louisiana | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Maine | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Manitoba | Summer breeder | April–September |
| Maryland | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Massachusetts | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Michigan | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Minnesota | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Mississippi | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Missouri | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Montana | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Nebraska | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Nevada | Year-round resident | March–September |
| New Brunswick | Summer breeder | April–September |
| New Hampshire | Year-round resident | April–September |
| New Jersey | Year-round resident | March–September |
| New Mexico | Year-round resident | March–September |
| New York | Year-round resident | March–September |
| North Carolina | Year-round resident | March–September |
| North Dakota | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Nova Scotia | Summer breeder | April–September |
| Ohio | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Oklahoma | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Ontario | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Oregon | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Pennsylvania | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Quebec | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Rhode Island | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Saskatchewan | Summer breeder | April–September |
| South Carolina | Year-round resident | February–September |
| South Dakota | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Tennessee | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Texas | Year-round resident | February–September |
| Utah | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Vermont | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Virginia | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Washington | Year-round resident | March–September |
| West Virginia | Year-round resident | March–September |
| Wisconsin | Year-round resident | April–September |
| Wyoming | Year-round resident | April–September |
Frequently asked
What do mourning doves eat?
Almost entirely seeds, taken on the ground. At feeders: millet, cracked corn, black-oil sunflower, safflower.
How big is a Mourning Dove?
9–13.4 in long and 3.4–6 oz.
Do mourning doves use birdhouses?
No. Flimsy twig platform in trees, shrubs, gutters or ledges.
Sources
- Mourning Dove — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mourning Dove life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mourning Dove — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.