The mourning dove is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. It takes its name from the distinctive, plaintive call uttered by males to attract a mate. The call is meant to establish territory and can be heard from dawn to dusk in early spring.
Mourning doves are slender, weighing an average of 4 to 6 ounces and measuring around 12 inches in length.
This gray-brown bird has a small head and a long, pointed tail. The outer tail feathers have white tips with a black marking midway, so the tail is edged with a black and white stripe. The wings show dark primaries, and wing coverts and scapulars are boldly spotted with black. Below the eye is a distinctive crescent-shaped area of dark feathers.
The eyes of the mourning dove are dark with light skin around them. The adult male has bright purple-pink patches on the neck sides, with a light pink color fading towards the breast. The crown of the adult male is a distinctly bluish-gray color. The female is similar in appearance but has a browner coloring overall. Mourning doves have perching feet, with three toes forward and one reversed. Their legs are short and reddish in color and their beaks are short and dark.
Most mourning doves migrate over land along flyways. Spring migration north runs from March to May. Fall migration south runs from September to November. Migration is usually during the day, in flocks and at low altitudes. The wings of the mourning dove can make an unusual whistling sound upon takeoff and landing. But these birds are strong fliers, capable of maintaining speeds up to 55 mph. However, not all individuals migrate. Some will overwinter, finding sustenance in bird feeders.
Courtship between doves begins with a noisy flight by the male, followed by a graceful, circular glide with outstretched wings and head down. After landing, the male will approach the female with a puffed breast, bobbing head, and loud calls. The male will lead the female to potential nest sites, allowing the female to choose the site. The female dove then builds the nest with materials brought to her by the male.
Most nests can be found in trees, both deciduous and coniferous. But sometimes they are found in shrubs, vines, hanging flowerpots or situated on buildings. When no suitable elevated object can be found, mourning doves will nest on the ground.
The number of individual mourning doves is estimated to be approximately 475 million. As a gamebird, the mourning dove is well managed, with up to 70 million shot by hunters each year. Despite hunting and a high natural mortality rate, their populations are increasing in most regions. It is important to manage mourning dove populations because they help to control weed populations through their diets as well as serve as a food source.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
