The mourning dove is a small dove that’s one of the most common birds in North America. They can be found in southern Canada and in nearly all of the U.S.A. Here are a few interesting and fun mourning dove facts:
Mourning Dove Facts
Mourning doves store seeds they collect from the ground in their “crop”, which is part of their esophagus. Once they’ve filled the crop, they’ll fly to somewhere safe before digesting the seeds.
The mourning dove is one of the most common game birds in North America.
The oldest recorded age for a mourning dove is 31 years.
Mourning doves mostly eat seeds – they make up 99% of their diet.
Mourning doves eat up to 20% of their body weight each day.
They almost always lay eggs in pairs.
Another name for mourning doves, is “turtle doves” as in the popular Twelve Days Of Christmas song.
Mourning doves stay with the same mate throughout the breeding season, and it’s thought they may remain monogamous throughout their life.
They’ve been recorded flying at speeds up to 55 mph.
The mourning dove gets its name from the mournful sound of its cooing.
Baby mourning doves will first leave the nest at between 11 to 15 days of age, becoming independent after about 30 days.
The mourning dove can raise up to 6 broods in a breeding season.
The mourning dove is one of the most hunted game birds in North America with over 70 million shot each year.
Unusually for birds, the mourning dove drinks by sucking up the water. Most bird species drink by filling their bill and then letting the water run down their throat.
enjoyed your comments doves had 1 or babies and a week old they were gone wondered if a hawk got them now in the same planter they are back for 3 days and I guess are going to use it again it is right outside our open livingroom window where tv is on etc.and doesent seem to deter them
If you, like me, don t like mourning doves just be certain the seed you put out for the birds totally lacks cracked corn. Cracked corn is a major ingredient in most bird food mixes because it is a cheap filler and people think it will attract wild turkeys.
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I love this website it gave me lots and lots of facts for my school report. I just think that you should add just a little but more facts just because I love this site and I think it would be a little better if it had a little more facts for my report.
I think I was seeing a mated pair eating in my front yard. however, the male had a bright red spot on the back of its head and a bit of green on ihis long tail. Are they mourning dives?
The Mourning Dove is not the same as the Turtle Dove as was incorrectly stated in this article. It is a common mistake.