Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbdae
Genus: Zenaida

Audio for Species

Call
Song

from Macaulay Library

Species Related Links

Additional Mourning Dove Pictures

Description

Length: Male: 10.43-13.4 in (26.5-34 cm) Female: 8.86-12.2 in (22.5-31 cm) Weight: Male: 3.4-6 oz (96-170 g ) Female: 3-5.5 oz (86-156 g) Wingspan: 17.7 in (45 cm)

They have a pale buff-brown head, neck, breast, and belly. Purple and green iridescence on the neck, with small black mark on lower neck. Medium brown back and upperwings, with large black spots on coverts. A long tail that is pointed at the tip, and the tail is dark brown with white tips to the outer four tail feathers.

Habitat, Range, and Feeding

Mourning Doves can be found mostly in open coutry and forest edges. They winter mostly south of the 40th parallel, but some overwinter into southern Canada. Habitat quality is determined primarily by food availability and roosting and loafing cover during migration.

They nest in trees, and bushes, on the ground and ledges, adapting to their location for nesting. The nest is a fragile construction of pine needles, twigs, and grass stems. Over two to four days, the male brings twigs to the female, passing them over to her while he stands on her back and the female weaves them into a nest about 8 inches across. The clutch size is 2 eggs, that are white.

They are ground feeders with seeds making up nearly all the Mourning Dove's diet, with one percent being grasses, weeds, and once in a while berries.