The air across North America often carries a distinctive, melancholic sound – a soft, drawn-out coo-AHH, cooo, coo, cooo. This is the song of the Mourning Dove, a sound so evocative that it lends the bird its very name. Often described as wistful or even sad, this cooing can sometimes be mistaken for the hoot of an owl, highlighting its uniquely somber quality. But why exactly are they called Mourning Doves? The answer lies in understanding the sound they make and the overall impression these birds leave on observers.
The Distinctive Mournful Coo
The name “Mourning Dove” is directly derived from the bird’s plaintive and mournful cooing sound. This sound, often described as a soft, drawn-out series of coos, truly sets them apart in the avian world. Unlike the cheerful chirping of sparrows or the boisterous calls of jays, the Mourning Dove’s song carries a tone of melancholy. It’s a sound that resonates with feelings of sadness and solitude, and it’s this very quality that has led people to associate it with mourning.
Imagine hearing this sound in the quiet of dawn or dusk – its gentle, yet sorrowful cadence can easily evoke a sense of peace and introspection, but also a hint of sadness. For centuries, across different cultures, doves in general have been symbols of peace, but also sometimes of sorrow or mourning. The specific sound of Zenaida macroura, however, with its drawn-out and descending notes, seems to have solidified this association, making “Mourning Dove” a perfectly fitting and descriptive name.
Alt text: A Mourning Dove with soft grey and brown plumage perches gracefully on a tree branch, showcasing its slender, tapered tail, embodying the gentle demeanor associated with its name.
More Than Just a Name: Understanding Mourning Dove Characteristics
While their name is rooted in their sound, Mourning Doves are fascinating birds with a range of characteristics that contribute to their identity. Understanding these traits helps us appreciate them beyond just their name.
Physical Traits and Identification
Mourning Doves are medium-sized birds, easily recognized by their plump, brownish-gray bodies and long, slender, tapered tails. This long tail is a key identifier, distinguishing them from similar dove species. In fact, their scientific name, Zenaida macroura, emphasizes this feature, with “macroura” originating from Greek words meaning “long tail.” The tail feathers also have subtle white tips, adding another visual detail for identification. They are common across a vast range, from Mexico through the United States and up into southern Canada, adapting to various environments and often found near human habitation.
Skittish Nature and Wing Whistle
Despite their common presence, Mourning Doves are known for being quite skittish. They are easily startled, and when they take flight, they produce a sharp whistling sound. Interestingly, this sound isn’t vocal; it’s created by their wings. As air rushes through their feathers during takeoff, it causes them to vibrate, generating this distinctive whistle. This wing-whistle can also serve as an alarm signal. Research has shown that recordings of this sound can trigger other doves to take flight, demonstrating its role in their communication and survival.
Alt text: A Mourning Dove is captured mid-flight, its wings fully extended, highlighting the aerodynamic feathers that create the characteristic whistling sound upon takeoff, a natural alarm in their environment.
Voracious Eaters
Mourning Doves are far from dainty eaters. When they discover a food source, particularly seeds on the ground, they efficiently gather as much as possible. They store this bounty in a pouch in their throat called the crop. Once filled, they fly to a safer location to digest their meal. On average, a Mourning Dove consumes a significant portion of its body weight daily, approximately 12 to 20 percent. Remarkably, one dove was recorded with an astounding 17,200 bluegrass seeds in its crop at one time, showcasing their impressive eating capacity.
Mating Calls and Behavior
The characteristic cooing sound is most often heard from male Mourning Doves seeking a mate. Males establish a favorite “cooing perch,” a prominent spot from which they can sing to attract females. They are quite territorial about these singing sites, defending them against other males who attempt to encroach, ensuring their prime location for attracting a partner.
Nest Building Habits
Mourning Doves are known for their rather hasty and somewhat flimsy nest construction. After a pair chooses a nesting site, the male dove gathers twigs and stems, which the female loosely weaves into a nest. These nests are often so sparsely constructed that the eggs can be visible from below. They are not particularly selective about nest locations, often choosing trees or shrubs, but they are equally likely to nest in unexpected places like flower pots, cacti, or even on air conditioners. The surprising locations of their nests have even inspired online communities dedicated to documenting these “stupid dove nests.”
Alt text: A fragile Mourning Dove nest, loosely constructed from twigs, precariously holds two delicate white eggs, illustrating their seemingly haphazard approach to nest building in nature.
Crop Milk and Parental Care
Mourning Doves are devoted parents. For the first few days of a chick’s life, both parents feed them “crop milk,” also known as “pigeon milk.” This is a highly nutritious substance, similar in texture to cottage cheese, produced in the crop of the parents. They regurgitate this “milk” to feed their young, called squabs. This feeding method is shared with pigeons and doves, and only a few other bird families, like flamingos and penguins, employ a similar strategy. Crop milk is incredibly beneficial for young birds, boosting their growth and immune systems.
Feeder Behavior and Adaptability
Around bird feeders, Mourning Doves exhibit a rather docile demeanor. Despite their size, they are not typically dominant birds in feeder interactions. While larger birds generally prevail in disputes, Mourning Doves often rank lower than expected in feeder hierarchies. However, they are adaptable birds, thriving in diverse habitats from coast to coast across North America. They prefer open areas like farmland, parks, and backyards, but can also survive in harsh environments like the desert, due to their ability to drink slightly salty water without dehydration, a significant advantage in arid regions.
Unique Drinking Method
Mourning Doves, like pigeons and doves in general, possess a unique drinking method. They can suck up water through their beaks like a straw, unlike most birds that must tilt their heads back to drink. They achieve this by pumping their tongues like pistons to create suction, similar to a vacuum pump. This efficient method allows them to drink quickly, reducing their vulnerability to predators during this essential activity.
Conclusion
So, Why Are They Called Mourning Doves? It all comes back to that distinctive, melancholic coo. This sound, coupled with their gentle and somewhat unassuming nature, has led to their association with mourning and sadness. However, understanding these birds beyond their name reveals their fascinating adaptations, behaviors, and their significant presence in our environments. The next time you hear that soft coo-AHH, cooo, coo, cooo, take a moment to appreciate the Mourning Dove – a bird whose name perfectly captures its soulful song, but whose life is full of intriguing facets.
