You are going to learn how to identify the CALLS, COOS, and WING WHISTLES of a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura).

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THERE ARE 3 COMMON SOUNDS THAT MOURNING DOVES MAKE:

SOUND #1:
The easiest sound to identify is a song given by males trying to attract a mate. Listen for a low “cooah, coocoocoo.”

Many people describe this song as hauntful or sad. In fact, this bird got its name because its call is so mournful.

Many people confuse the Mourning Dove’s song with an owl. I know I did at first!

SOUND #2:
The second sound you may hear is produced by paired males. It’s given while nest building or when trying to attract their female to the nest site.

Listen for a three parted call that sounds like “cooOOoo”, with the middle note being highest.

SOUND #3:
When they take off or land, Mourning Doves make a loud whistling noise. That sound comes from their wings!

It’s thought that these wing whistles help warn other doves to the presence of a predator.

Mourning Doves are common visitors to bird feeding stations! These birds are widespread and are found throughout most of North America!

Look for them perched high up in trees or on a telephone wire near your home. They are also commonly seen on the ground, which is where they do most of their feeding.

Credit for the recordings:
Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Recordists: Larry Arbanas, Wil Hershberger, Bob McGuire

Image(s) and/or Footage used under license from Shutterstock.com.