The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of the most widespread and common bird species across North America. Whether this bird is social or territorial depends entirely on the season and context. Mourning Doves exhibit pronounced social tendencies for much of the year, yet they switch to a temporary, specific form of territoriality when breeding. This flexibility allows them to maximize survival outside of the breeding season while ensuring successful reproduction during nesting.
The Social Dynamics of Mourning Doves
Outside of the nesting period, Mourning Doves demonstrate a strong social inclination by forming large, loose flocks that can sometimes number in the hundreds. These assemblages are typically observed in the late summer, fall, and throughout the winter, providing safety in numbers against predators. The birds often engage in communal feeding, foraging on the ground for seeds, which constitute nearly all of their diet.
They possess an enlarged section of their esophagus called the crop, which allows them to quickly swallow a large volume of seeds and fly to a safe, elevated perch for digestion. This feeding strategy is highly efficient and is facilitated by the group, as many birds watching for danger are better than one. While aggression is minimal in these social contexts, a loose social hierarchy exists within the flock.
Dominant birds may occasionally reinforce their status by briefly chasing subordinates, especially around reliable food sources or preferred roosting spots. These interactions are usually short-lived and rarely involve physical contact, serving as a display to maintain order. During migration, these doves often travel together in flocks, though many populations in temperate regions remain year-round.
Territorial Behavior During Nesting
The social dynamic shifts dramatically when the breeding season begins, as Mourning Doves become temporarily territorial to ensure reproductive success. This defensive behavior is highly localized, focusing almost entirely on the immediate area surrounding the nest site, rather than a broad feeding territory. The male dove is the primary defender, establishing a small perimeter around the flimsy platform of twigs that serves as the nest.
Defense involves chasing away rivals, most notably in the “three-dove chase.” This display involves the mated male chasing an unmated male that intrudes on the area, with the female sometimes following close behind. The pair also defends specific elevated spots, known as cooing perches, which the male uses to advertise his presence and claim the territory.
Although they become protective of their nest and young, Mourning Doves are not considered overtly aggressive birds. Their primary response to an intruder is usually a short, aggressive chase or posturing rather than engaging in a physical fight. This limited territoriality lasts through the nesting cycle, including nest building, incubation, and the feeding of the young with “crop milk.” Once the young fledge, the pair’s territoriality quickly dissipates, and they return to a more social existence.
Vocalizations and Display Signals
Mourning Doves use distinct vocalizations and visual displays to communicate their social or territorial status. The well-known soft, drawn-out cooing call is predominantly produced by the male and serves a dual purpose. The “coo-OO-oo” sound is used to attract a mate and to signal to rival males that the territory is occupied, particularly from a defended cooing perch.
During courtship, the male performs a visual signal known as the bowing display, which often accompanies his cooing. He approaches the female stiffly, puffing out his chest and bobbing his head in a series of exaggerated movements to demonstrate his vigor. Courtship also involves elaborate flight maneuvers where the male flies up with noisy wingbeats and then glides in wide, silent circles with his wings spread and slightly bowed.
A different, non-vocal sound is the distinctive sharp whistling or whinnying sound produced by their wings when they take off in flight. This sound is a mechanical signal, created by the air passing over specialized primary feathers, and often functions as an alarm to warn other doves of potential danger. The combination of soft cooing for pairing and loud wing whistles for warning highlights the complexity of their communication system.