What Does the Mourning Dove Sound Like?
The Mourning Dove is a slender-tailed, agile bird found across North America. Recognizable by its graceful flight and mournful, drawn-out calls, it is commonly seen perched on power lines or searching for seeds on the ground.
Known for its soft yet sorrowful voice, the dove’s call is often associated with grief, giving the bird its name.
Key Features of the Mourning Dove
- Size and Shape: The mourning dove is relatively small, with a plump body and long, pointed tail. It has a small head, short legs, and slender wings, which allow for quick, straight flights. The tail, distinctive among North American doves, adds to its unique silhouette in the sky.
- Flight and Behavior: doves fly swiftly and are capable of quick maneuvers, including sudden rises, dives, and evasive actions. Their wings often produce a sharp shriek when taking off, making them stand out among other birds in flight.
- Sound: The mourning dove’s call is long, soft, and melancholic, resembling a sound of regret or mourning. It is often heard in the early morning or evening, adding to its sorrowful reputation. When the bird takes off in flight, its wings create a distinctive, sharp noise.
- Habitat: Mourning prefer open areas such as fields, farmland, and urban settings with tall roosting spots like telephone wires. They are commonly seen in both rural and suburban areas but avoid dense forests.
Physical Measurements
- Male: 9.1-13.4 inches (23-34 cm) in length, weighing 3.4-6.0 ounces (96-170 g), with a wingspan of 17.7 inches (45 cm).
- Female: 8.4-13.0 inches (21-33 cm) in length, weighing 3.0-5.5 ounces (86-156 g), with a wingspan of 17.7 inches (45 cm).
Read more: Physical Measurements
Appearance
Mourning doves have a delicate brown to buff-colored plumage with dark spots on their wings and white-tipped tail feathers, bordered by black. Their soft, muted coloring helps them blend in with the surroundings, particularly in open fields or grasslands.
Mourning Dove Sound and Habitat Insights
The Dove is a widely recognized bird, known for its melancholic call that gives it its name. Common across North America, this bird’s distinct sound, along with its behaviors and habitats, make it a fascinating subject of study.
Here’s an overview of its habitat, diet, nesting habits, and some interesting facts.
Habitat and Nesting
Mourning doves are highly adaptable and can be found in open landscapes, woodland edges, and even urban areas. They often perch on telephone wires or roost in thick bushes or evergreen trees. During winter, they may seek shelter in woodlots but remain mostly on the ground for foraging in meadows, farmlands, and backyards.
When it comes to nesting, m doves build their nests in dense foliage or on the ground, usually close to human activity. The nest is typically constructed using pine needles, twigs, and grass, with the female assembling it from materials provided by the male. They generally lay two white eggs per clutch and can have 1-6 broods a year.
Mourning Dove Diet
Mourning doves are primarily seed eaters, consuming a variety of wild grasses, weeds, herbs, and sometimes berries or snails. Seeds make up about 99% of their caloric intake, and they consume approximately 12-20% of their body weight in food each day.
For attracting doves to your backyard, scattering millet seeds on the ground or using stage feeders can be effective.
Unique Facts About Mourning Doves
- Population: Mourning doves are among the most abundant birds in North America, with an estimated 350 million individuals.
- Longevity: The oldest known dove lived to be over 30 years old.
- Survival: Mourning doves can drink brackish water without becoming dehydrated and can store large amounts of seeds in their crops (part of their digestive system).
Mourning Dove Breeding Behavior
During the breeding season, mourning may be seen flying in tight groups, with one male chasing another. This behavior is often a form of competition for mating or territory. The sound of their calls during this time is particularly noticeable.
Also reed: Hummingbird-feeder-maintenance-in-winterBackyard Tips for Attracting Mourning Doves
- Seed Placement: Scatter seeds, especially millet, on the ground or place them in stage feeders to attract mourning doves.
- Safe Shelter: Provide cover with thick bushes or evergreen trees where doves can rest and nest.
- Protecting Ground-Feding Birds: Keep cats indoors to ensure ground-feeding birds like are not at risk.
By offering a welcoming environment with plenty of food and shelter, you can attract these beautiful birds to your backyard and enjoy their peaceful, haunting call.
Mourning Dove Behavior and Conservation
Mourning doves are ground-feeding birds that prefer open spaces, often pecking at the ground rather than scratching. They have distinctive social behaviors, including cooing roosts and pair-bonding rituals. These rituals often involve shared grooming and head-bobbing, which help strengthen their social connections.
Conservation Status
While mourning doves are abundant, their population has decreased by nearly 20% since 1966. Despite being one of North America’s most recognized game birds, they face significant threats, including lead poisoning from ingesting lead shot in hunting areas.
This, along with other environmental pressures, has raised concerns about their long-term conservation. Each year, mourning doves attract more than 20 million hunters and collectors, highlighting both their popularity and the need for sustainable management.
Conclusion
The mourning dove’s sorrowful call and distinctive flight behavior make it one of the most recognizable birds in North America. Whether perched on a wire or soaring through the sky, this bird’s presence is often marked by its haunting, regretful sound, making it a symbol of the serene and bittersweet moments in nature.