For daily wit & wisdom, get the Almanac newsletter.

Mourning Dove Facts: Sounds, Symbolism & Identification

A mourning dove rests on a warm rock.

Image Credit:
Photo by US Fish and Wildlife via Wikimedia Commons
Written By: Heidi Stonehill Executive Editor

The mourning dove, with its soft coo and graceful flight, is a familiar sight and sound across North America. This gentle bird, found in backyards, parks, and open fields, holds a special place in the hearts of many. Whether you’re an aspiring birdwatcher or simply curious about these ubiquitous feathered neighbors, dive into the fascinating world of the mourning dove!

What is a mourning dove?

The mourning dove is a slender gray bird known for its soft cooing call, long tail, and graceful flight. It is one of the most common birds in North America.

How to Identify a Mourning Dove

Mourning doves boast an impressive population exceeding 350 million across the continent, making them the most abundant game bird and a common backyard visitor.

Look for their slender grey bodies, long tails, and the black spots adorning their wings. Their gentle cooing call is also a helpful identifier.

A close up of a mourning dove
Photo: Cami Johnson

What Does a Mourning Dove Sound Like?

The mourning dove’s signature call, a mournful yet strangely comforting coo, is a familiar sound in backyards and natural areas. This vocalization plays a crucial role in attracting mates and defending territories.

How Fast Can Mourning Doves Fly?

Don’t underestimate these seemingly unassuming birds! Reaching speeds of up to 55 mph, mourning doves are swift fliers, capable of impressive bursts of speed during courtship displays and evading predators.

Mourning Dove in Flight
Photo: Jean Blom

Where Do Mourning Doves Live?

These resourceful birds thrive in diverse habitats, from deserts to woodlands to urban parks. Their diet of seeds and grains allows them to flourish in a variety of environments.

Mourning Dove Symbolism and Meaning

Mourning doves have earned a place in folklore and traditions across North America. Native American tribes revered them as symbols of peace and hope, while their cooing often found its way into poetry and music.

How to Attract Mourning Doves to Your Yard

You can attract Mourning Doves to your garden by providing access to water sources and planting native seed-bearing plants like sunflowers and millet. Open platforms or ground feeders filled with seeds like safflower and corn will offer a tasty invitation.

Conservation and Habitat Concerns

While abundant overall, localized populations can face threats from habitat loss and pesticide use. Understanding these challenges and supporting conservation efforts helps ensure the future of this beloved bird.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a mourning dove sound like?

Mourning doves make a soft, mournful cooing sound often heard in backyards and open fields.

Are mourning doves good to have around?

Yes! Mourning doves are peaceful backyard birds that help disperse seeds and add soothing natural sounds to gardens.

What do mourning doves eat?

They primarily eat seeds and grains, including sunflower seeds, millet, safflower, and cracked corn.

How do you attract mourning doves?

Provide ground feeders, fresh water, and native seed-bearing plants like sunflowers and millet.

What does seeing a mourning dove symbolize?

Many cultures view mourning doves as symbols of peace, hope, love, and remembrance.

Where do mourning doves nest?

Mourning doves often build simple nests in trees, shrubs, hanging baskets, or even building ledges.

Click here to listen to the sounds of other birds!

Have you heard a mourning dove? Add your comments below. Be sure to let us know where you live or where you’ve heard this bird sound before!

Bird Sounds

About The Author

Heidi Stonehill

Heidi Stonehill

Executive Editor

Heidi Stonehill is the executive editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, where she focuses much of her time on managing content development for the Almanac’s line of calendars.

Read more from Heidi Stonehill

More Like This

Comments

<span>Eldred</span> Tue, 05/12/2015 - 12:01
Sweet! I've been hearing these calls for years, but could never match them with the bird until now. So now I know there are Mourning Doves in the neighborhood, even though I don't recall SEEING any. I've seen the Robins and Sparrows, and there are apparently Blue Jays in the area as well that I haven't seen either.
<span>Mariaede</span> Tue, 04/28/2015 - 17:15
I live in southern San Diego County, California, very close to the Mexican border. I hear them early in the morning. I love that they seem to be having a conversation. One dove will sing, and then another will answer. And these birds are at a distance from each other, as much as 30 or 40 meters. Though most songs will have 4 "syllables" sometimes they will have five or six! And when the song is a long one, sometimes they make a short pause between "syllables" I am always fascinated, and wonder what they are saying to each other.
<span>Sunny1945</span> Mon, 04/27/2015 - 00:54
I have a nest in my garage on top of my garage door opened with 2 new babies just born. This is the 2nd year for the best. I have quite a few at my feeders, they are so serene.
<span>Christine Spangler</span> Sun, 03/15/2015 - 18:39
Houston, TX My neighborhood has many established pairs each year. Along with the cardinals and bluejays it can be quite beautifully cacaufunous (sp) at times. But all go quiet when a hawk passes overhead!
<span>Lucie</span> Sat, 03/14/2015 - 00:06
March 13/2015 I heard a dove singing in the night time . I live in Capreol Ontario
<span>Joan Senerchia</span> Sun, 07/13/2014 - 17:34
I live in NJ. Not only do I hear them, I see them. I feed them. I've watched them mating and then hanging out together like an old married couple.
<span>Darlene Ford</span> Mon, 06/30/2014 - 15:44
Yes, I have heard the mourning dove...Sweet! First I thought as did Victoria C.who commented on 4-27-14, that it was an owl and I felt uneasy. Someone mentioned, it could be a mourning dove so I got on this site and I love it. Finally, I saw two doves just walking down our driveway, it was so cute,, I feel it was the male dancing all around her! We do feed a lot of birds! I live in Ft. Gibson, Okla. (Oldest town in OK.)
<span>Rich Slack</span> Tue, 05/13/2014 - 18:58
quite common here in aptos, ca. I use my cupped hands, blowing thru my thumbs to immitate. opening of index finger can vary the tone.
<span>Lisa Spring</span> Sun, 05/04/2014 - 20:48
I have two newborn doves in a nest on top of a cabinet! It is so exciting! They are rather big already and the daytime babysitter allows us to get about a foot away from it. Luv their sounds and they stay all year round northwest nj
<span>Victoria C.</span> Sun, 04/27/2014 - 13:38
The sound of Mourning Dove scarred me first. Couple of days ago early morning about 4 am I woke up for his voice. First I thought that's an owl and I was afraid there will happen something wrong in my family. I am from Europe and there is a tradition in some country, if an owl coming to your house at night or early morning then there will be someone dead soon. I called my Mom and my kids but they were ok. Now I wanted to know what bird has this sound and I found this great site. Thank you. Now I am ok I know that is not an owl but still scary because of his name (Mourning). I am living North of Minneapolis, MN. I love birds and their songs but not this one. Hope they will move from here soon.