FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Also known as the American mourning dove, turtle dove, or the rain dove, mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) are common across the American continent and have a wide range. Mourning doves are often compared to similar species like the Eurasian collared doves, rock pigeons, common ground doves, and band-tail doves. These common birds are found sitting on the telephone wires, backyard, fence, and anywhere in the open country.
Mourning doves are abundant in the USA during winters and southern Canada during the summer months. Their favorite nesting habitat is in scattered trees, edges of woodlands. A major part of the mourning dove diet includes seeds. Apart from that these cooing birds feed on grains in agricultural fields, seeds and berries in gardens and backyards, and weeds on the roadsides.
They have a graceful, long-tailed body with a small head. Mourning dove feathers are light grey-brown on the body. The underbelly is covered with pinkish grey-brown feathers. Mourning dove wings have black spots. The long pointed tail is rectangular, tapered at the end. Like all doves, mourning dove chicks are fed on crop milk. This unique milk is made by pigeons, doves, flamingoes, and some penguin species. Mourning doves are among the most common game birds in North America.
Included in this article are facts about female mourning dove, juvenile mourning dove, mourning dove nest, mourning dove sound, mourning dove egg, pet mourning dove, and so on.
You may also check out fruit dove facts and dove facts from Kidadl.
Mourning doves are species of birds from the dove family. The males of this species are famous for their ‘perch coos’. During the breeding season, males without partners sing the popular mourning dove song repeatedly from a noticeable perch to attract females.
Mourning doves belong to the class Aves, meaning they are birds. They fly to warmer regions of North America during the winter months from South Canada. Mourning doves are common birds in the backyard, on the telephone wires, and scattered woodlands.
Mourning doves are among the most widespread species of doves in North America. Their huge population of nearly 475 million is spread across a wide range. Mourning doves are found throughout the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, Mexico, Bermuda, the Continental United States, southern Canada, and the Canadian prairies.
Mourning dove habitat includes farms, open woods, prairies, grasslands, urban gardens, and country forests. This species of birds can be found in almost all types of open or semi-open spaces in the temperate regions of North America. Mourning dove nesting habits are similar to other dove species. They usually build nests on trees in forest edges.
Mourning doves prefer warmer temperate regions of North America and southern Canada. In winter they move to warmer places. They are found on open grounds as well as woodlands. This species of dove, breed prolifically and raise almost six broods per year. That explains their abundant presence across North America’s backyard gardens, agricultural fields, grasslands, and countryside.
Mourning doves live in pairs. When they migrate to warmer climates from the colder zones, they move in flocks.
Usually, the males carry the nesting materials and the females weave the nest which is about 8 in (20.3 cm) in size. At times, these birds also use their old nests for laying eggs.
The mourning dove's lifespan in the wild is about two to five years. In captivity, they can live up to 19 years.
The breeding season starts in April and may last till October in warmer areas. Mostly the pairs are monogamous and mate for life. Nesting areas are usually on trees but occasionally on the ground. Nests are flimsily built with pine needles, stems, twigs, and grass by the female mourning doves. Mostly two to three broods are raised every season.
Mourning dove eggs are white and usually, a clutch consists of two eggs. The eggs are hatched about fifteen days later and the mourning dove chicks appear. If disturbed, mourning doves may abandon the nest and the young birds during the breeding season. Juvenile mourning doves leave the nest after about two weeks.
Mourning birds co-parent to raise the young birds. The mourning dove chick's diet is ‘crop milk’ also known as pigeon milk.
The mourning dove's conservation status is of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened species, due to their abundant population within their range. Even with a huge decline in numbers every year, the population of this species of birds is increasing.
Male and female mourning birds look similar. The males can be distinguished from the females by their pink color feathers on the chest. Both the sexes have brown and gray color feathers with black spots on their wings. These birds have small heads, a small pointed beak, and a slender, tapered tail.
Juveniles look quite similar to adults. Young birds have small white tips on most of the feathers on the upper part of their bodies and some white markings on the face.
Mourning doves are cute, innocent-looking birds with expressive eyes.
Mourning doves communicate through vocal sounds and gestures with their partners. During the breeding season, males make cooing sounds when looking for a female partner. They are popular for their melancholy vocalization or cooing.
California condors are the largest bird in their North American range and are around 54 in (137.1 cm) in length. Compared to them, a mourning dove of 12 in (30.4 cm) is about four and a half times smaller in length.
Mourning doves can fly at the speed of 55 mph (88.5 kph), about twice as fast as a green jay.
A mourning dove's body weight is around 3.3-6 oz (96–170g), almost 15 times heavier than a pink robin.
A male dove is called a cock and a female is called a hen.
A baby mourning dove is called a chick, nestling, and a fledgling in different stages.
A major part of the mourning dove's diet includes seeds. They mostly forage on the ground and sometimes perch on trees to eat seeds. These birds eat quickly and fill their crop with seeds. The crop is like a storing pouch for the seeds. They then digest the seeds while resting. Mourning doves also swallow grit or tiny gravels to assist them in digesting hard seeds. Along with seeds, mourning dove food also occasionally includes insects from the ground.
Mourning doves are gentle birds but are scared of humans. Male birds show some aggression during the breeding season to protect their territory from other males. They puff up their necks, spread their wings, and chase other males.
Mourning doves live the happiest life when they are free. If you love to hear cooing mourning dove sounds, these wild birds are easy to invite into backyards with bird feeders. In case you want to house pet mourning doves, these independent birds need large and clean areas, warm temperatures, and proper mourning dove food including seeds. Doves do not like to be touched much, so they are hands-off pets and not cuddly as dogs and cats. However, they are extremely appealing to the eyes and certainly friendly.
Often mistaken for each other, the Eurasian collared dove and mourning dove difference is mainly on the collar and wings. Eurasian collared doves have a thick black band on the collar and single white stripes on both wings.
These dove species get their name from the sad cooing, mourning dove call that the males make.
Mourning dove symbolism is often related to sorrow. However, in some cultures, the mourning dove is connected to love, peace, a messenger of harmony. Either a message of love from God or an aid in a time of crisis, it consistently represents a blessing from God.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our thrush bird facts and merlin bird facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our dove coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.