How long do mourning doves live?
The oldest Mourning Dove on record lived to 31.3 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild mourning doves live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 31.3 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 3 months
- Eggs per clutch
- 2 eggs
- Broods per year
- Up to 5–6 per season in the south
- Size
- 9–13.4 in, 3.4–6 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 2 of 6
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Mourning Dove can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Mourning doves usually start breeding at about 3 months old. Each season a pair lays 2 eggs and raises Up to 5–6 per season in the south, with eggs taking 14 days to hatch.
How mourning doves compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other pigeons and doves on this site.
- Rock Pigeon35 years
- White-winged Dove25 years
- Band-tailed Pigeon18.5 years
- Eurasian Collared-Dove17.9 years
- Inca Dove13.3 years
More about mourning doves
Frequently asked
How long do mourning doves live?
The longest-lived Mourning Dove on record reached 31.3 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild mourning doves live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Mourning Dove when it first breeds?
Usually about 3 months old.
What is the oldest Mourning Dove ever recorded?
31.3 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Mourning Dove raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2 eggs and raise Up to 5–6 per season in the south.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "large". genomics.senescence.info