Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Florida’s familiar slender dove, known for soft cooing and whistling wings.
Mourning Doves thrive across Florida in open woods, farms, roadsides, parks, and neighborhoods. Their low, mournful coo is frequently mistaken for an owl, while the sharp whistle heard during takeoff is produced by the wings.
Landscapes with seed-producing native plants, scattered trees, and clean shallow water provide useful habitat. Cats, window strikes, contaminated seed, and discarded line are common preventable hazards.
Habitat:
Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Agricultural Areas, Urban and Residential Areas
Area / Range:
Statewide
Diet:
Feeds mostly on seeds from grasses, weeds, crops, and bird feeders. Small amounts of grit help grind food in the muscular gizzard.
Behavior:
Often forages on bare ground and open lawns, then flies quickly to trees or utility lines. Pairs may nest repeatedly during Florida’s long breeding season, building a loose twig platform.
Daytime, Dawn and Dusk
Active Times:
Best time to see:
Year-round, especially near sunrise and late afternoon in open areas.
Florida Native Status:
Native
Conservation Status:
Least Concern and widespread; local mortality occurs from collisions, predators, disease, and habitat change.
Safety Level:
Low
Safety Information:
Keep feeders clean and dry, rake spilled seed, place feeders to reduce window collisions, and keep cats indoors. Do not disturb active nests.
Benefits to Property:
Consumes abundant weed seeds and provides an important link in Florida food webs for native raptors.
Property Concerns:
Usually harmless. Seed and droppings may accumulate beneath heavily used feeders, and poorly maintained feeding stations can spread disease.
Fun Fact:
- The wing whistle helps alert nearby doves to danger.
- Adults feed nestlings a nutrient-rich secretion called crop milk.
- A pair may raise multiple broods in one year.
Wildlife Laws:
Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and regulated as a migratory game bird. Hunting is allowed only under current federal and Florida seasons, licenses, methods, and bag limits; nests and eggs remain protected.
Identification:
Mourning Doves are slim, warm gray-brown birds with small heads, black spots on the wings, dark cheek marks, and long pointed tails edged in white. Males often show a bluish crown and rosy breast; females are slightly browner.