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Feeder birds
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
The mourning dove is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. The bird is also known as the American mourning dove, the rain dove, and colloquially as the turtle dove, and it was once known as the Carolina pigeon and Carolina turtledove.
Slender, soft gray-brown dove with a long pointed tail and black wing spots.
- Scientific name
- Zenaida macroura
- Group
- Feeder birds
- Main color
- Brown
- Conservation (IUCN)
- Least concern
Size and shape
The mourning dove is a medium-sized, slender dove approximately 31 cm (12 in) in length.
Diet
Mourning doves eat almost exclusively seeds, which make up more than 99% of their diet.
Range and habitat
The mourning dove has a large range of nearly 11,000,000 km2 (4,200,000 sq mi).
Voice
This species' call is a distinctive, plaintive cooOOoo-wooo-woo-woooo, uttered by males to attract females, and it may be mistaken for the call of an owl at first.
More photos
Mourning Dove FAQ
How big is the Mourning Dove?
The mourning dove is a medium-sized, slender dove approximately 31 cm (12 in) in length.
What does the Mourning Dove eat?
Mourning doves eat almost exclusively seeds, which make up more than 99% of their diet.
How do I identify a Mourning Dove?
Slender, soft gray-brown dove with a long pointed tail and black wing spots.
Where does the Mourning Dove live?
The mourning dove has a large range of nearly 11,000,000 km2 (4,200,000 sq mi).
Is the Mourning Dove endangered?
No. The IUCN Red List rates the Mourning Dove as least concern (status read from Wikidata).
Facts on this page are summarized from the Wikipedia article on the Mourning Dove (read October 27, 2026) and conservation status from Wikidata. Quick ID notes are Birdstagram's own summary.