Mourning Dove

Mourning doves are common in North America. They live in open woodlands and can be found in grasslands and agricultural fields. They do well in places where humans dwell so you can often find them in backyards and roadsides. You can spot them perched on trees and telephone poles making their call. The call is soft and can often be mistaken for an owl's hoot. These doves are omnivorous but mostly eat seeds. In fact, seeds make up 99 percent of their diet. They like to eat seeds from cultivated grains, grasses, ragweeds, and other plants. They can be found eating insects, although it is very rare. Mourning Doves usually eat around 12 to 20 percent of their body weight per day. They are often found in groups. They are mostly gray with spots on their backs and they have thin black bills and pink legs. The oldest known dove lived for 30 years and four months.

“Mourning Dove Identification, All about Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/id.

“Mourning Dove Overview, All about Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/overview.

“Mourning Dove.” Audubon, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/mourning-dove.

“Mourning Dove.” Audubon, 1 Apr. 2022, https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/mourning-dove.