Doves are a familiar presence in many environments, often recognized by their gentle cooing and graceful flight. They are common across various landscapes, from urban areas to rural settings. Understanding their distinct features helps appreciate their diversity. This guide will provide information to help distinguish different dove species by their appearance and sounds.
General Characteristics of Doves
Doves, members of the Columbidae family, share physical attributes. They have plump, rounded bodies with small heads and short necks. Their beaks are short and slender, sometimes featuring a fleshy cere at the base. Doves also possess short legs and walk with a characteristic head-bobbing motion.
Dove coloration varies, though many common species exhibit soft shades of gray, brown, and buff. While some species have vibrant plumage, many are more subtly colored, allowing them to blend into their surroundings. Doves have strong flight capabilities, with powerful wingbeats that produce a distinct sound during takeoff and landing. Their flight muscles can comprise a significant portion of their body weight, contributing to their agility in the air.
Identifying Common Dove Species
Several dove species are commonly encountered across North America, each with distinguishing visual features. The Mourning Dove, a common species, has a delicate brown to buffy-tan body with black spots on its wings. Its tail is long and pointed, edged with white tips visible in flight. Adult male Mourning Doves display a pinkish wash on the chest and blue-gray feathers on the head, along with iridescent sheens on the neck.
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is larger than the Mourning Dove, characterized by its chalky light brown to gray-buff plumage. A distinct narrow black crescent, or “half-collar,” marks the back of its neck. Unlike the Mourning Dove’s pointed tail, the Eurasian Collared-Dove possesses a square-tipped tail with broad white patches on the outer feathers.
The Rock Dove, often referred to as a common pigeon, is another widespread species. Its wild form has a blue-gray body with two prominent black bars across each wing. The lower back is white, and the neck and chest display glossy iridescent feathers in shades of yellow, green, and reddish-purple. Feral populations of Rock Doves exhibit a wide range of plumage colors and patterns, including variations of red, brown, and checkered markings.
Auditory and Behavioral Cues
Beyond visual characteristics, dove sounds and behaviors offer identification cues. The Mourning Dove is named for its soft, drawn-out cooing call, described as “coo-ah, coo, coo, coo.” This call, given by males to attract mates, can be mistaken for an owl’s hoot. Their wings produce a distinct whistling sound during takeoff and landing, which can serve as an alarm signal.
Eurasian Collared-Doves have a three-syllable coo that sounds like “kuk-kooooo-kuk” or “goo-GOO-goo,” with emphasis on the middle syllable. They also produce a harsh, nasal, or screeching call, especially when excited or just before landing. These doves perch on wires or in trees, cooing persistently.
Rock Doves, or pigeons, produce a rolling “coo, rooc’too-coo” sound. Their flight is direct and swift, involving powerful wingbeats followed by gliding. Doves forage on the ground, walking rather than hopping, and primarily consume seeds. They store seeds in a crop before flying to a sheltered area to digest them. Doves possess the ability to drink water by submerging their bills and sucking, unlike most birds that must tilt their heads back.