Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Year-round in CharlotteCommon
Carolina Pigeon or Turtle Dove (pl. 17) — engraved plate of the Mourning Dove
Carolina Pigeon or Turtle Dove (pl. 17) · John James Audubon · Public domain

The take

The soft cooing from the power line; wings whistle when it takes off.

How to ID it

  • Plump body with a small head and a long, pointed tail unique among North American doves
  • Delicate brown to buffy-tan overall with black spots on the wings and white-tipped tail feathers
  • Flies fast on powerful wingbeats with sudden ascents, descents, and dodges

Field marks at a glance

Size
medium
Head
small buffy-tan head
Call
low mournful coo-OO-oo

Where & when

Year-round in Charlotte

Learn more

Sources