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Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Pigeons and Doves
Mourning Dove, photographed by Grigory Heaton

Photo: Grigory Heaton · iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC 4.0 (licence)

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Call and song

About the Mourning Dove

Svelte with a long, pointed tail. Plain brown overall with dark spots on wing. Juvenile is covered with pale scaly pattern, but is much larger and longer-tailed than ground doves. Widespread and common throughout much of North America, from southern Canada to Panama, including the Caribbean. Found in a variety of habitats from agricultural fields to lightly wooded areas. Loves suburbs, where it often sits on telephone wires and visits bird feeders. Avoids dense forest, but found on forest edges. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks, sometimes gathering in larger numbers, especially in winter. Listen for distinctive cooing song and whistling wings as it takes off.

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 34 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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