How to identify it
Long, pointed tail showing white spots along the edges in flight. [1]
Mostly plain brownish body with black spots on the wings. [1]
Adult male: pinkish tinge on the chest and blue-grey crown; female duller and plain brown. [1]
Juveniles look scaly and are sometimes mistaken for Inca or common ground doves. [1]
Compared with the inca dove: Scaly juvenile mourning doves can be confused with Inca doves; adults have a long pointed tail with white edge spots. [1]
Compared with the common ground dove: Juvenile mourning doves are larger with the long pointed tail of the species. [1]
Where it lives
Almost any open or semi-open temperate habitat: farmland, towns, suburbs, roadsides, forest clearings, prairies and deserts, especially edges with both trees and open ground. Avoids unbroken forest. [1]
How it behaves
Feeds almost entirely on seeds (about 99% of diet), mainly on the ground, favouring cultivated grain, grass and ragweed seed; regularly swallows grit. [1]
Where it is listed for legal take
These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.
Where legal take is listed
- British Columbia — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
- Canada (federal migratory birds) — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (SOR/2022-105), Schedule Parts 7-13 (MB, SK, AB, BC, NT, YT, NU)
- Ontario — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 6 (Ontario) (current to 2026-09-21)
- Québec — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022, Schedule 3, Part 5 (Quebec) (current to 2026-09-21)
- Alabama — migratory bird hunting · Mourning and White-Winged Dove Season 2026-2027 (ADCNR)
- Arizona — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations
- Arkansas — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (PDF)
- California — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 California Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use of Department Lands Regulations
- Colorado — migratory bird hunting · 2 CCR 406-5 Chapter W-5 Migratory Birds (03/04/2026; eff. 2026-05-01)
- Delaware — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide: Migratory Bird Seasons & Bag Limits
- Florida — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Florida Migratory Bird Hunting Season Dates and Bag Limits (FWC)
- Georgia — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Season Dates - Migratory Birds (WRD 1-page synopsis, linked from georgiawildlife.com/migratory-bird-info)
- Hawaii — hunting, migratory bird hunting · HAR Title 13 Chapter 122, Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting (unofficial copy, am. 05/09/15)
- Idaho — migratory bird hunting · Idaho Migratory Game Bird 2026-2027 Seasons & Rules
- Illinois — migratory bird hunting · Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-2027 (PDF read from cached copy of the digest linked on this page)
- Indiana — migratory bird hunting · Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide 2026-2027: Waterfowl & Migratory Bird Regulations
- Kansas — migratory bird hunting · Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, Fall 2025-Spring 2026
- Louisiana — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Louisiana Hunting Regulations (updated Aug 7, 2026)
- Maryland — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping (official guide, linked from dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide)
- Minnesota — migratory bird hunting · Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations (effective July 2026 - June 30, 2027)
- Mississippi — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Hunting Seasons (MDWFP PDF)
- Missouri — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2026-2027 (cached PDF from MDC regulations page)
- Montana — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, Mourning Doves & Snipe Regulations
- Nebraska — migratory bird hunting · Small Game & Waterfowl Guide 2025-2026
- Nevada — migratory bird hunting · Nevada 2026-2027 Small Game Hunting Regulations & Seasons (NDOW official guide, eRegulations-hosted)
- New Mexico — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 New Mexico Migratory Game Bird Supplement
- North Carolina — migratory bird hunting · Proclamation: 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons (NCWRC)
- North Dakota — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 Small Game, Waterfowl and Furbearer Proclamation
- Ohio — migratory bird hunting · Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27 (effective 1 Sep 2026-31 Aug 2027); PDF read from cached copy
- Oklahoma — migratory bird hunting · Dove (Mourning, White-Winged & Eurasian Collared)
- Oregon — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (official ODFW booklet)
- Pennsylvania — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits
- Rhode Island — migratory bird hunting · Hunting and Trapping Regulations (250-RICR-60-00-9)
- South Carolina — migratory bird hunting · 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
- South Dakota — migratory bird hunting · 2026 South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook
- Tennessee — migratory bird hunting · Summary of Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Seasons Dates | TWRA
- Texas — migratory bird hunting · Dove: 2026-2027 Seasons & Regulations
- Utah — migratory bird hunting · 2026-27 Waterfowl, Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook
- Virginia — migratory bird hunting · Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Virginia DWR
- Washington — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations (Jul 1 2026 - Jun 30 2027)
- West Virginia — migratory bird hunting · West Virginia Migratory Game Bird Regulations Sept 2026-Jan 2027
- Wisconsin — migratory bird hunting · 2026 Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Seasons PUB-CS-076-2026 (updated 06/08/2026)
- Wyoming — migratory bird hunting · WGFC Ch. 14 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons and Light Goose Conservation Order (dated Apr 22 2026)
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
Widespread across southern Canada and the United States, from Western and Eastern Canada to Florida, Texas and California. Some remain through winter across most of the breeding range while northern birds move south.
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
National Audubon Society · reviewed 2026-09-30
National Audubon Society