Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove

  • Species: Zenaida macroura
  • Type: Bird
  • Typical Size: 9-13 in / 17-18 in wingspan
  • Plumage Colors: Soft tan and gray with black wing spots and a pale pinkish wash on chest
  • Habitat Needs: Open areas / Lawns / Gardens / Power lines / Woodland edges
  • Activity Period: Diurnal
  • Diet: Seeds / Grains / Occasionally snails and gravel for digestion
  • Song/Call Description: A low, mournful cooing: “coo-OO-oo-oo-oo,” often mistaken for an owl

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Bird Behavior

  • Notable Behaviors: Ground foraging / Bobbing head while walking / Sudden explosive takeoff
  • Nesting Habits: Flimsy twig nest in trees, shrubs, gutters, or hanging planters
  • Attracts To Garden By: Ground seed / Millet / Flat surfaces for perching / Quiet spaces
  • Migration Patterns: Resident in North Texas

Favorite Plants Or Features

  • Favorite Trees/Shrubs: Mesquite / Oaks / Cedar elms
  • Favorite Flowers/Grasses: Native grasses / Seed-producing flowers
  • Shelter Choices: Low branches / Shrub canopies / Roof ledges

Notes

  • Interaction with Pets: Easily startled / Flies quickly with loud wing claps when spooked
  • Special Notes: Will return to the same nesting site multiple times in a season

Description

Mourning Doves are gentle, soft-colored birds that lend a calm presence to the backyard. Their namesake song is a familiar and haunting coo that echoes across early mornings. On the ground, they waddle with a gentle bob and are most often seen feeding beneath feeders or basking in open sunny spots. Their flight is fast and powerful, often accompanied by a loud wing whir. They’re monogamous and may raise multiple broods in a single season, often in surprising places like hanging planters or tucked-away beams. Peaceful and easygoing, Mourning Doves are a hallmark of any bird-friendly garden.

Known Emberwood Members