Soulful Sound

With their soulful “coo,” there is no mistaking the sound of the Mourning Dove. And if you look closely, you’ll discover they have beautiful eyes and muted, multi-colored feathers that glisten in the sun. 

Common throughout North America, they are often seen in pairs or flocks. Like so many other birds, they love to stop by the backyard feeders in the early evening. Mourning Doves enjoy a peaceful reprieve during these times.

Regular Visitors

At our previous home, I had a birdbath on our enclosed patio. After months of no activity, we began noticing a pair of Mourning Doves descend upon it late in the day. They were initially timid, but once they knew it was a safe haven, they would visit daily to get a drink of water and relax, often sitting for well over an hour. It was so special to watch them. And even our presence did not scare them away. 

We see Mourning Doves regularly at our new home, where several feeders are stocked with yummy food. Understanding their place in the hierarchy, they only stay briefly and then return the next day. 

¹Did You Know: 

A graceful, slender-tailed, small-headed dove that’s common across the continent. Mourning Doves perch on telephone wires and forage for seeds on the ground; their flight is fast and bullet straight. Their soft, drawn-out calls sound like laments. When taking off, their wings make a sharp whistling or whinnying. Mourning Doves are the most frequently hunted species in North America.

Fun Facts:

• During the breeding season, you might see three Mourning Doves flying in tight formation, one after another. This is a form of social display. Typically the bird in the lead is the male of a mated pair. The second bird is an unmated male chasing his rival from the area where he hopes to nest. The third is the female of the mated pair, which seems to go along for the ride.
• Mourning Doves tend to feed busily on the ground, swallowing seeds and storing them in an enlargement of the esophagus called the crop. Once they’ve filled it (the record is 17,200 bluegrass seeds in a single crop!), they can fly to a safe perch to digest the meal.
• The oldest known Mourning Dove was a male, at least 30 years, 4 months old when he was shot in Florida in 1998. He had been banded in Georgia in 1968. This fact highlights the remarkable longevity potential of the Mourning Dove.

1. All of the facts above are provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. They are one of the leading expert organizations worldwide about birds. ↩︎