Zenaida macroura
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Our commonest and most widespread native dove, the Mourning Dove (12" long) often visit backyard feeders.
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Its natural food includes a variety of seeds, grains, and insects
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To attract a mate, the perched male gives a melancholy cooing call while puffing out his throat and bobbing his tail.
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Male's aerial display, in which he takes flight with a noisy clapping of the wings and then flies high into the sky before gliding downward in a long spiral.
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Courtship, the cooing male struts and bows repeatedly in front of the female.
Identification:
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Adults are sleek gray-brown overall, with black spots on the wings and pinkish brown wash on the under parts.
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Long tail tapers to a point.
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Male has subtle iridescence on the sides of his neck and grayish crown.
Habitat:
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Frequents a wide variety of open habitats, including farmyards, fields, suburban areas, and backyards.
Voice:
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The male's territorial and courtship call is a series of mournful cooing notes, with the second note stressed and higher in pitch than the others: oo-wah-hoo-oo-oo.
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A shorter call, oo-wahoh, is used by both sexes during activities near the nest.
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Mourning Doves often produce a prominent whistling twitter when flying, especially during takeoff or landing.
Range:
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Year-round resident across the United States except for the northern Great Plans region.
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Summer range extends into southern Canada.
