Mourning Dove

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is in the Pigeons and Doves family (Columbidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 246,122 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: spring and fall migrant. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Mourning Dove: observations by month (U.S.)

About Mourning Dove

The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. The bird is also known as the American mourning dove or the rain dove, and erroneously as the turtle dove, and was once known as the Carolina pigeon or Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds. It is also a leading gamebird, with more than 20 million birds (up to 70 million in some years)...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Mourning Dove by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Pigeons and Doves)

White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica

Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto

Band-tailed PigeonPatagioenas fasciata

Inca DoveColumbina inca

Zebra DoveGeopelia striata

Common Ground DoveColumbina passerina

Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis

White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ