There was a time when the mourning dove was somewhat of a minor species among the dove family. The passenger pigeon dominated the scene with huge numbers and very likely limited the mourning dove’s numbers in some areas, although the passenger pigeon was more of a forest species rather than of open lands. The cousin of the mourning dove was a literal “biological storm” as some called it. Some reports tell of flocks covering the sun for 72 hours! They engulfed and broke down whole hardwood forests by their combined weight when going to feed or roost. As settlers began farming, forests were cut down to make way for crops, plus the pigeons found easy pickings of the seeds of crops. There was no Southern States to run to, to buy seed for the next season! 

     Farmers had to control the pigeons. To market hunters the passenger pigeon became a great source of easy income. The birds were a good, cheap food and hundreds of barrels were shipped east and sold. 
Continued clearing of the oak and beech forests removed nesting and feeding habitat and soon the various biological pressure wrought by a growing, expanding new country sounded the death knell of the passenger pigeon by early 1900.

     However, these same types of land use changes by man have proven beneficial to the mourning dove. Its nesting habitat has increased in area. Due to the more intensive farming, large open crop fields of grains, plus more fallow fields of native vegetation, and increased water supplies in the form of reservoirs, impoundments, and farm ponds, the mourning dove is thriving.

     Even though it carries a songbird status in about 17 or 18 states, the mourning dove has become the most popular upland game bird in the states where it is managed for hunting. Each year, dove hunters bag up to 40 million birds and yet hunting has a relatively minor influence when it comes to overall dove mortality. Probably only 10-15 percent of the dove population is a result of hunting. The continental population has been estimated at around 400 million birds. What is known as the Eastern Management Unit by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded some time ago that in the past three decades, the dove population did drop, but it has stayed stable for many years now.

     The mourning dove has a number of relatives in the United States including the ground dove, white-winged dove, and recently the collared dove has made its way into Virginia. It is also related to the common pigeon, or rock dove. The mourning dove has a sleek, streamlined body that varies in length from 11 to 13 inches, with a weight of 3.5 to 6 ounces. Its rakish form is due to its smooth body feathers, longish wings and narrow, pointed tail in flight. Its basic coloration is a grayish tan or even olive brown, with a buffy brown head, neck, and forehead, and a bluish gray crown. The lower sides of the neck are an iridescent, purplish bronze, or gold or pink. It has bluish black spots on the lower head and neck. Its flight feathers are bluish gray to slate gray, as are its tail feathers. The tail feathers are black at the ends with white tips and edges, with the central tail feathers being all blackish. Its bill is slender and black and its feet are deep pink or red.

     The mourning dove gets its name from its mournful “cooing” call, a sad cry that even influenced the Chippewa (Ojibwas) to name it “wa-ba-mi-mi,” which is descriptive in that language of their call. The males arrive to their northern breeding grounds in the northern U.S. in March and April, while here in Virginia many spend the winter and may begin nesting as early as early February. The male selects a territory, which it defends with great vigor. It utters its mournful call at sunrise and continues to sunset depending on the weather. It’s cooing attracts the female at first but later, the cooing indicates that his mate is again on the nest incubating her eggs. Once a female chooses a male, he goes through a courtship flight, flying high into the air then coasting down, with wings stiff and tail spread, in a wide arc, tipping left then right, before returning to the perch he started from.

     While man’s land use practices have played an important part in the increase and stability in dove populations, it is the dove’s ability to take advantage of them that has really helped it. The mourning dove is prolific with each pair bringing off more than one brood per year in the north, and up to eight in the south. In more southerly climes, they begin nesting as early as February and continue as late as early September. It is the male that often seeks out a nesting site although it must meet his lady’s approval. The nest is a frail, loosely constructed platform like structure, made of twigs and grasses. Normally it is built low in a tree or shrub but up to 20 feet up. The nest is often so poorly constructed that it and the eggs are frequently destroyed by storms or wind. Doves prefer nesting in scattered woodlands and groves surrounded by flat open woodlands. They also nest readily in suburbs, parks, and near roadways. They nest in pines, cedars, holly, and many others, and will often use an old robin, mockingbird or brown thrasher nest as a foundation.

     Two eggs are normally laid and they hatch in about 15 days. In another two weeks, the young doves are able to fly; a fantastic growth rate, which is another reason why doves are so numerous. The male assists the female in incubating the eggs and aids in the rearing of the young. The “squabs” are fed a special nutritious milk that is produced within both parent birds and regurgitated into the young bird’s mouth. As they begin to grow, they start feeding on insects, worms, and caterpillars, and soon they can be seen on the ground feeding on small seeds, and ultimately the various grains and weed seeds of the farmlands. Doves are primarily seed eaters, feeding on a variety of wild and domestic plant seeds including milo, wheat, corn, millet, and soybeans. They show a definite preference for small, round seeds, like fox-tail grass. In late fall they gather around old melon fields to grab up seeds from rotting or harvested cantaloupes.

     Doves feed early in the morning, mid-afternoon, and once again at evening. As evening approaches they move to water. Water is extremely important to the dove, and they must have it regularly. They can drink without tipping their heads back. After getting water and the grit or and they need to aid in digestion, they go to roost. It is these habits that dove hunters take advantage when hunting doves.

     The mourning dove more commonly spends winters in the north than they used to. This is especially due to the abundance of waste grains in the field and numerous weed seeds. They will commonly be found around grain bins or milling operations. Usually they are found in small groups, but occasionally you’ll see flocks of 20 or 30. Normally, however, doves winter south of a line that extends from California to Colorado, to Iowa to southern Michigan, Ohio, and New Jersey.

     Dove hunting is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of hunters in those states that have seasons. While it is one of the least demanding of the hunting sports physically, it offers a challenge and a special camaraderie with your hunting partners, often wives, sons, and daughters, and your favorite retriever. There is a bonus to all the activities associated with a dove hunt, that of some mighty fine eating afterwards. While small dove breasts, dusted with seasoned flour, browned, then simmered with mushrooms and red wine until tender is special. Whether a bird watcher or hunter, the mourning dove is something special.
 

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Artwork by Spike Knuth 
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