Watercolor portrait of Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

What does the Mourning Dove song sound like?

Zenaida macroura
Song

Play the real Mourning Dove song, the "cooOOOoo woo-woo-woo", and learn what to listen for.

“cooOOOoo woo-woo-woo”

What the Mourning Dove song sounds like

A soft, mournful cooing that starts strong and fades: often rendered as "coo-ah, coo, coo, coo." The first note is the loudest (cooAH) followed by several softer coos. Males sing from a perch (or sometimes on the ground or a fence) to attract a mate and defend a breeding territory. It's most often heard in the early morning or late afternoon.

“cooOOOoo woo-woo-woo”

How to find the bird singing it

Extremely adaptable; found in open and semi-open environments across North America. Common in farmland, grasslands with scattered trees, suburban yards, parks, and desert scrub. Often seen perched on telephone wires or foraging on the ground for seeds. Avoids dense forests; prefers edges and clearings.

  • Soft tan-gray body: Soft tan-gray body with black speckles on the wings and a subtle pinkish hue on the sides of the neck
  • Long tapered tail: Long, tapered tail with white edges that flash when tail is fanned in flight
  • Black cheek spot: Small black spot beneath and behind the eye on the cheek, distinctive to Mourning Doves

When you'll hear it

Spring

Breeding pairs form early. Males perform aerial displays and cooing intensifies. Nesting begins, sometimes as early as February in southern regions.

Summer

Multiple broods raised. Juveniles (more uniformly brown with scaling) become abundant. Adults may look worn from constant nesting activity.

Fall

Family groups combine into larger feeding flocks. Some northern birds begin southern movements. Late nesting may continue in warm areas.

Winter

Form large feeding flocks in agricultural areas. Northern birds move south. More concentrated at feeding stations and roost sites. Appearance unchanged.

Don’t confuse it with

Birds whose song gets mistaken for this one. Play them back to back.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Larger and paler, with a distinct black half-collar at the nape of the neck.

Mourning Dove song FAQ

What does a Mourning Dove song sound like?
A soft, mournful cooing that starts strong and fades: often rendered as "coo-ah, coo, coo, coo." The first note is the loudest (cooAH) followed by several softer coos. Males sing from a perch (or sometimes on the ground or a fence) to attract a mate and defend a breeding territory. It's most often heard in the early morning or late afternoon. Birders write it as "cooOOOoo woo-woo-woo".
How do I tell a Mourning Dove from a Eurasian Collared-Dove by ear?
Eurasian Collared-Dove: Larger and paler, with a distinct black half-collar at the nape of the neck.; Collared-Doves have a deeper, three-syllable cooing ('coo-COO-cook') and lack the Mourning Dove's wing whistle..
When is the best time to hear the Mourning Dove song?
In spring, pairs form and begin nesting early (Mourning Doves can nest as early as March or even late winter in warm areas). Males perform display flights with loud wing claps and cooing to attract mates. Throughout summer, they may raise multiple broods (2 eggs per nest is typical, and they can nest up to 5-6 times in a season in warm climates). By fall, juveniles and adults flock together at food sources, though some continue late nesting into autumn. During winter, their activity centers around roosting in sheltered spots and feeding during the day; they remain relatively quiet except for occasional flock flutter or soft calls, saving energy for the next breeding cycle.

More Mourning Dove sounds

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