Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura

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	Birds are warm-blooded
	Birds lay eggs
	Birds incubate their eggs with heat from their bodies
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	Birds have beaks and no teeth
	Birds are covered with feathers
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Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura


	Birds

Information

Sightings Map | Observed Behaviors

Common Names -

Dove, Mourning Dove

Larva Names -

Not Applicable

Scientific Name -

Zenaida macroura

Kingdom -

Animalia (Animals)

Phylum -

Chordata (Chordates)

Class -

Aves (Birds)

Order -

Columbiformes (Doves, Pigeons)

Family -

Columbidae (Doves, Pigeons)

Genus -

Zenaida

Species -

macroura

General Description -

The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized dove. These birds exhibit all of the physical characteristics common to doves, including a plump oval-shaped body with a long tapered tail and a small head with a dainty beak.

Male Description -

The dainty beak is black or dark grey in color. The feet and legs are reddish-pink. Eyes are black and ringed with a narrow band of light blue. Plumage coloration is a medium taupe on top with a slightly lighter color along the bottom. Flight feathers are darker yet, and the wings have spots of black near their base. Tail feathers are tipped with white and include a black band just past the midpoint.

Plumage coloration differs slightly between the sexes. Males have a subtle band of pink, purple or green iridesence on the neck.

Male Length -

12 inches

Male Weight -

3 to 6 ounces

Male Wingspan -

18 inches

Female Description -

Females differ from the males in that they have slightly darker coloration along the back of their necks and the top of their heads.

Female Length -

12 inches

Female Weight -

3 to 6 ounces

Female Wingspan -

18 inches

Age of Maturity -

85 days of age

Breeding Season -

February through October

Mating Rituals -

Not Available

Mates per Season -

1 mate per season

Nest Description -

Nest are built of straw and twigs, and are typically 6 to 10 inches in diameter. Occasionally, Mourning Doves will build upon, or take over and existing nest of suitable size and shape.

Nest Location -

Mourning Dove nests are usually found at a height of 4 to 30 feet above the ground. Man-made structures and small coniferous trees are the Mourning Dove's prefered nesting sites, but other trees and bushes are also used.

Nest Building -

Both parents participate in nest building.

Eggs per Clutch -

2 eggs

Egg Description -

White

Egg Size -

1 inch long by 0.75 inches wide

Incubation -

Incubation is performed by the female and the male. Eggs hatch after 14 to 15 days of incubation.

Gestation -

Not Applicable

Brood Size -

2 chicks

Broods per Season -

3 brood per season

Care of Young -

Chicks are cared for by both parents.

Juvenile Diet -

Chicks are fed a diet of regurgitated partially digested food known as "Pigeon's Milk".

Feeding Frequency -

Not Available

Larval Stage -

Not Applicable

Newborn Description -

Not Available

Newborn Length -

Not Available

Newborn Weight -

Not Available

Newborn Wingspan -

Not Available

Juvenile Description -

Juveniles have coloration similar to the adult female with the following exceptions: darker feathers in general and a scaling effect on the wings caused by lightly colored feather tips.

Juvenile Length -

Not Available

Juvenile Weight -

Not Available

Juvenile Wingspan -

Not Available

Pupal Stage -

Not Applicable

Pupa Description -

Not Applicable

Pupa Length -

Not Applicable

Pupa Weight -

Not Applicable

Age of Independence -

Fledgling Mourning Doves begin to leave the nest at 14 to 16 days after hatching, but will continue to be fed by their parents up to day 30.

Lifespan -

Up to 19 years with 1.5 years being typical

Active -

Active during the day

Sleep -

Sleeps at night

Shelter -

Not Available

Hibernation -

Not Applicable

Feeding Habits -

Mourning Doves feed throughout the day on seeds and grain found on patches of vegetation free soil.

Diet -

Mourning Doves prefer seeds and grains found on the ground. Occasionally Mourning Doves will eat insects and other small invertebrates.

In DFW Area -

Year-round

Spring Migration -

Not Available

Fall Migration -

Not Available

Habitat -

Mourning Doves can be found in a wide variety of habitats, but seem to prefer grassy areas near trees, dirt roads and other vegetation free patches of soil. They also spent a great deal of time in and around suitable man-made structures.

Observation Tips -

Mourning Doves are frequently seen perched high on a man-made structure making their unique and mournful call. They also spend a great deal of time on the ground, preferring open patches of soil in which to search for seeds and grain.

Male Sounds -

Call is the very mournful sounding, "Oowoo woo woo woo". When taking flight the Mourning Dove makes a very distinctive fluttering-whistling sound.

Female Sounds -

Identical to the male

Observed Behaviors

Sort by

Observation -		Mourning Dove 1.1
Behavior Type -		Nesting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Late Winter (Feb 21 - Mar 20)
Details -		I observed this Mourning Dove nesting just outside a local elementary school (The bird and nest are visible in the top left-hand corner of the photgraph). The nest is roughly 8 feet off the ground in a Bradford...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 1.2
Behavior Type -		Nesting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Late Winter (Feb 21 - Mar 20)
Details -		This is a close-up view of a Mourning Dove nesting in a Bradford Pear tree just outside of a local elementary school. This is an early season nest on the north side of the building, low to the ground and in a high...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 1.3
Behavior Type -		Nesting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Late Winter (Feb 21 - Mar 20)
Details -		A close-up of a Mourning Dove nest located in a Bradford Pear tree just outside of a local elementary school. The nest contains two eggs. This nest, unfortunately, was ill-fated. A week after this picture...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 2.1
Behavior Type -		Nesting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Spring (Mar 21 - Apr 20)
Details -		This is an example of what seems to be a particularly bad choice for a nesting site. The Mourning Dove in this observation has nested in the right-most bush just outside a local elementary school. This...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 2.2
Behavior Type -		Nesting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Spring (Mar 21 - Apr 20)
Details -		A close-up of a Mourning Dove nesting just outside a local elementary school. This nest is located in a small bush about 4 feet off the ground, and next to a high traffic sidewalk. This dove allowed an approach...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 2.3
Behavior Type -		Fleeing
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Spring (Mar 21 - Apr 20)
Details -		My interest in the nest unsettled this Mourning Dove and it left the nest. It landed on the ground a short distance away and began feigning injury. The dove scurried along the ground flapping its wings, working...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 2.4
Behavior Type -		Fleeing
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Spring (Mar 21 - Apr 20)
Details -		This Mourning Dove became unnerved by my interest in her nest, and she began feigning injury to lure me away from her eggs. I followed with the camera, and at about 20 yards from the nest she ended her charade and...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 2.5
Behavior Type -		Nesting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Spring (Mar 21 - Apr 20)
Details -		This is a close-up view of a Mourning Dove nest in a small bush just outside of a local elementary school. On a return visit to the nest on the following day I found the nest abandoned with no signs of the eggs to...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 3.1
Behavior Type -		Congregating
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Mid Spring (Apr 21 - May 20)
Details -		After fledging, juvenile Mourning Doves will often gather together in small groups. Here three likely unrelated juveniles sit atop a construction trailer...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.1
Behavior Type -		Nesting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Mid Spring (Apr 21 - May 20)
Details -		A female Mourning Dove incubating a pair of eggs. This nest is located on the porch of an unoccupied house...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.2
Behavior Type -		Care of Young
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Late Spring (May 21 - Jun 20)
Details -		Five days later the eggs have hatched and the young Mourning Doves are growing rapidly...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.3
Behavior Type -		Care of Young
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Late Spring (May 21 - Jun 20)
Details -		Another view of the new Mourning Dove family. This wider view shows more detail of the structure the nest is constructed on...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.4
Behavior Type -		Resting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Late Spring (May 21 - Jun 20)
Details -		The juvenile Mourning Doves have successfully fledged and left the nest. Here one of the juveniles sits on the ground, under landscaping, roughly 20 yards away from the nest...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.5
Behavior Type -		Surveying
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Summer (Jun 21 - Jul 20)
Details -		After raising their first brood, the pair of Mourning Doves quickly began incubating another set of eggs. Here the male sits watchfully atop the porch, just above the nest. Over the course of the summer...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.6
Behavior Type -		Surveying
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Summer (Jun 21 - Jul 20)
Details -		The male Mourning Dove takes a moment to scratch an itch...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.7
Behavior Type -		Feeding
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Summer (Jun 21 - Jul 20)
Details -		Here the nesting female takes a break from watching the nest to have a drink from a shallow pool of roadside water...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.8
Behavior Type -		Feeding
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Summer (Jun 21 - Jul 20)
Details -		A female Mourning Dove drinking from a barely there puddle of water...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 4.9
Behavior Type -		Feeding
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Early Summer (Jun 21 - Jul 20)
Details -		After taking a quick drink this female Mourning Dovechecks for danger...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 5.1
Behavior Type -		Congregating
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Mid Summer (Jul 21 - Aug 20)
Details -		A pair of recently fledged Mourning Doves in the parking lot of a nearby library...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 5.2
Behavior Type -		Resting
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Mid Summer (Jul 21 - Aug 20)
Details -		A close-up of a newly fledged Mourning Dove...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 6.1
Behavior Type -		Care of Young
City -		Dallas
Time of Year -		Late Summer (Aug 21 - Sep 20)
Details -		This Mourning Dove nest was discovered with two eggs in it over the 4th of July holiday. The nest is located in a hanging basket on the balcony of the photographer's apartment. The original pair of...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 6.2
Behavior Type -		Care of Young
City -		Dallas
Time of Year -		Late Summer (Aug 21 - Sep 20)
Details -		The day and a half old squabs are visible in this photograph, as is the very basic nest typical of Mourning Doves...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 6.3
Behavior Type -		Care of Young
City -		Dallas
Time of Year -		Late Summer (Aug 21 - Sep 20)
Details -		One and a half day old Mourning Dove babies in their nest...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 6.4
Behavior Type -		Care of Young
City -		Dallas
Time of Year -		Late Summer (Aug 21 - Sep 20)
Details -		The baby Mourning Doves at approximately 6 days of age. As you can see from this picture, they grow rapidly...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 6.5
Behavior Type -		Care of Young
City -		Dallas
Time of Year -		Late Summer (Aug 21 - Sep 20)
Details -		Both the male and female Mourning Dove provided care for the two squabs in this brood. The squabs are approximately seven days of age in this picture, and the photographer reports that the parents are spending...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 7.1
Behavior Type -		Surveying
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Mid Summer (Jul 21 - Aug 20)
Details -		Paul Brown noticed this unusual looking bird in his backyard, and quickly retrieved his camera to record its picture...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 7.2
Behavior Type -		Surveying
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Mid Summer (Jul 21 - Aug 20)
Details -		As Paul approached it became clear that the bird was an albino Mourning Dove, complete with white feathers, a pink beak, and red eyes...more

Observation -		Mourning Dove 7.3
Behavior Type -		Surveying
City -		Carrollton
Time of Year -		Mid Summer (Jul 21 - Aug 20)
Details -		A nice closeup picture of the albino Mourning Dove...more

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