Mourning Dove Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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West Virginia, July 05, 2019Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Song
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New York, June 30, 2012Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Wing sound
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New York, November 25, 2018Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

The song (or “perch-coo”) is given mainly by unmated males from a conspicuous perch. It’s a soft coo-oo followed by two or three louder coos.

Calls

You can often hear paired males give the three-parted “nest call” while nest-building: a coo-OO-oo, highest in the middle. Females sometimes call ohr ohr while sitting on the nest.

Other Sounds

When taking off and landing, Mourning Doves’ wings make a loud whistling that may help startle predators or warn flock mates. They also can clap their wings together during takeoff much the way Rock Pigeons do.