The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of North America’s most widespread birds, recognized by its slender body, long, pointed tail, and gentle brown-gray plumage. The species is best known for its signature vocalization, a soft, drawn-out call that many listeners describe as melancholy or sorrowful, which is how the bird earned its common name. This low, breathy sound is technically a coo, and it is sometimes mistaken for the distant hooting of an owl. However, this seemingly mournful vocalization is far from a lament; it is a complex communication tool central to the bird’s breeding cycle, territorial defense, and pair-bonding efforts.
Courtship and Mate Attraction
The majority of the cooing heard in the spring and summer is an advertisement performed by the male mourning dove to attract a mate. This “advertising coo” is the male’s declaration of his health and readiness to breed. He typically calls from a high, conspicuous location, such as a utility wire or a bare tree branch, which acts as his designated “cooing perch.”
The advertising coo has a distinct, five-note pattern that communicates his presence across a greater distance. The pattern begins with a single coo, followed by an accented, higher-pitched second note, and concludes with three lower, shorter notes. This sequence signals to a potential female that he is available.
The male also performs an elaborate aerial display to impress the female, combining his vocal performance with a physical show. This involves a noisy, steep ascent followed by a long, circular glide back down to his perch with his wings held stiffly open. A successful display and persistent cooing often leads to the female approaching the male, which is the necessary first step toward forming a breeding pair.
Defining Territory and Nest Communication
Once a pair has formed, the male’s cooing shifts its function from attraction to establishing and defending a territory around the chosen nest site. This territorial cooing is directed at rival males, serving as a warning to keep away from the immediate nesting area. The male actively defends his perch, often engaging in aggressive physical posturing to reinforce his vocal claim on the space.
The coo is also used by the mated pair to facilitate communication and coordinate their duties during the nesting period. These calls are much softer than the loud advertising coo, often called “nest coos.” They are used to guide the female to a potential nest location or to signal a shift change.
Mourning doves share incubation duties, with the female sitting on the eggs at night and the male taking the daytime shift. A three-note nest coo, which goes from low to high and then back to low, is used by the arriving mate to alert the partner that it is time to switch places. This soft vocalization ensures the eggs are never left unattended and highlights the coo’s role in maintaining the pair’s bond.
Cooing vs. Other Dove Sounds
While the coo is the most recognized vocalization, mourning doves utilize other forms of communication. The most notable non-vocal sound is the “wing whistle,” a sharp, high-pitched noise produced as they take flight, particularly when startled. This sound is not made with the syrinx, the bird’s voice box, but rather by air rushing through specialized feathers on their wings, causing them to vibrate.
The wing whistle serves as an effective alarm system, signaling danger to other doves and nearby birds. Studies suggest that the tempo of the whistling changes when the bird takes off in a panic, and this faster pace alerts others to a perceived threat.
Beyond the coo, mourning doves also employ various sharp, non-melodious alarm calls or distress calls when directly threatened. These are generally brief, harsh noises that contrast sharply with the drawn-out, soothing quality of their familiar coo.