Peaceful Dove vs Mourning Dove

Peaceful Dove

Geopelia placida

How to recognise a peaceful dove?

General appearance

The Peaceful Dove is a small grey-white bird with a blue-grey hued chest, a long and slender bill, and characteristic spotted black and white wings. Measuring around 20-24 cm in length, it showcases pink legs, a buff white belly and a distinctive two-part cooing sound that separates it from other dove species.

Male vs female

There is little sexual dimorphism in the Peaceful Dove; males and females share similar physical characteristics. Both sexes have a striking black line with white borders around their neck. However, during courtship, the male flaunts abnormal upright display, with the neck stretched height, revealing its expanded glossy chest.

Juvenile

Juveniles are nearly identical to adult Peaceful Doves but are a duller version of the adults. The characteristic spots on their wings are also less defined compared to the adults. Over time, they develop adult-like appearance as their plumage matures.

Size

7.9 - 9.4 in/1.4 - 2.3 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The peaceful dove predominately inhabits dry, open woodland areas and grasslands.

Additional range

Its range extends from northern and eastern Australia, through Papua New Guinea to the Solomon Islands. It can also be found in unexpected urban environments.

Range Map

What do peaceful doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The peaceful dove primarily feeds on seeds and grains found on the ground. Its diet includes seeds from grasses, weeds, and sedges, along with small invertebrates such as insects and worms. It forages in open areas and prefers locations with sparse vegetation which makes food more accessible.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, the peaceful dove often consumes grains and seeds like millet and cracked corn. It may also eat commercial birdseed mixes and occasionally forages for small insects if available. The dove is attracted to ground-feeding trays where seeds are easily accessible.

What does a peaceful dove sound like?

The peaceful dove, known for its gentle cooing, typically employs a soft, plaintive 'coo-ru-cuk' sound repeated many times. Its song is a rhythmic, mournful "coooo, coo-coo-coo," often repeated for long periods, usually from an elevated perch, and is most active at dawn and dusk. The cooing sequences help in marking territory and enticing mates. Other vocalizations include soft chuckling sounds and whistling notes during flight.

Call

Audio by James Lambert

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Song

Audio by Meena Haribal

/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

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Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Also known as: American Mourning Dove, Rain Dove, Turtle Dove, Carolina Pigeon, Carolina Turtledove

How to recognise a mourning dove?

General appearance

The mourning dove is roughly the size of a crow, bearing characteristics of a long, pointed tail which is about 12', or 30 cm long. This tail displays white spots along its edge while in flight. The bird’s wings are adorned with black spots and its overall coloration exhibits hues of black, brown, gray, pink, tan, and white. The dove has a pointed, wedge-shaped tail.

Male vs female

The sexes of mourning doves can be distinguished by their coloration. Adult males generally have a pinkish tinge on their chests and a blue-gray tone on their crowns. However, the female doves are more dull and plain, predominantly appearing in a shade of brown.

Juvenile

Young mourning doves have a unique scaly appearance that can lead them to be confused with the Inca Dove or the Common Ground Dove. They do not possess the vivid coloring of the adults and generally appear more muted in color.

Size

9.1 - 13.4 in/3.0 - 6.0 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The mourning dove primarily inhabits open and semi-open locations in temperate parts of North America. This includes farms, towns, open woods, roadsides, and grasslands.

Additional range

It is prevalent in places with both trees and open ground, known as edge habitats, and occasionally in treeless areas. Unexpectedly, it also frequents suburban areas, farmland, prairies, and deserts, while avoiding unbroken forests.

Range Map

What do mourning doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The mourning dove predominantly consumes seeds, which constitute 99% of its diet. It shows a preference for seeds from cultivated grains, grasses, ragweeds, and various other plants. Occasionally, its natural diet includes snails and very rarely any insects.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, mourning doves enjoy seeds commonly provided, such as millet and cracked corn. Their preference aligns with the availability of cultivated grain and grass seeds often found in birdseed mixes.

What does a mourning dove sound like?

The mourning dove's vocalizations are characterized by its low, mournful coo-ah followed by three coos. This unique call pattern is projected in a falling, flat, yet undulating manner. Despite its melancholic tone, the dove's hoot type call is nonetheless captivating and distinct, reinforcing its colloquial name.

Call

Audio by Francis C, Ortega C, Cruz A

/ CC BY-SA 2.5

Song

Audio by Gabriel Leite

/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

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Peaceful Dove

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Mourning Dove

Peaceful Dove

Geopelia placida

General appearance

The Peaceful Dove is a small grey-white bird with a blue-grey hued chest, a long and slender bill, and characteristic spotted black and white wings. Measuring around 20-24 cm in length, it showcases pink legs, a buff white belly and a distinctive two-part cooing sound that separates it from other dove species.

Male vs female

There is little sexual dimorphism in the Peaceful Dove; males and females share similar physical characteristics. Both sexes have a striking black line with white borders around their neck. However, during courtship, the male flaunts abnormal upright display, with the neck stretched height, revealing its expanded glossy chest.

Juvenile

Juveniles are nearly identical to adult Peaceful Doves but are a duller version of the adults. The characteristic spots on their wings are also less defined compared to the adults. Over time, they develop adult-like appearance as their plumage matures.

Size

7.9 - 9.4 in/1.4 - 2.3 oz

There's more to learn about Peaceful Dove

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Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Also known as: American Mourning Dove, Rain Dove, Turtle Dove, Carolina Pigeon, Carolina Turtledove

General appearance

The mourning dove is roughly the size of a crow, bearing characteristics of a long, pointed tail which is about 12', or 30 cm long. This tail displays white spots along its edge while in flight. The bird’s wings are adorned with black spots and its overall coloration exhibits hues of black, brown, gray, pink, tan, and white. The dove has a pointed, wedge-shaped tail.

Male vs female

The sexes of mourning doves can be distinguished by their coloration. Adult males generally have a pinkish tinge on their chests and a blue-gray tone on their crowns. However, the female doves are more dull and plain, predominantly appearing in a shade of brown.

Juvenile

Young mourning doves have a unique scaly appearance that can lead them to be confused with the Inca Dove or the Common Ground Dove. They do not possess the vivid coloring of the adults and generally appear more muted in color.

Size

9.1 - 13.4 in/3.0 - 6.0 oz

There's more to learn about Mourning Dove

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How to tell the Peaceful Dove from the Mourning Dove

Visual differences

The Peaceful Dove is smaller, measuring 8-9.5 inches long, with a slender bill and pink legs. It has a blue-gray chest, buff white belly, and distinctive black-and-white spotted wings. Contrastly, the Mourning Dove is larger, around 9-13 inches, with a long, pointed wedge-tail featuring white spots when in flight. It shows a mix of black, brown, gray, pink, tan, and white hues. The Mourning Dove has a more pointed tail and is generally heavier, with a notable difference in coloration between males and females, unlike the consistent appearance in Peaceful Doves.

Key differences and behavior

The Peaceful Dove and Mourning Dove, although similar in appearance, exhibit distinct behaviors. Peaceful Doves, found mainly in Australia and nearby islands, often roam urban and woodland areas in pairs or flocks. They display aggressive behavior during breeding, with mutual courtship rituals and nest-building in trees or shrubs. Conversely, Mourning Doves inhabit North America's open and semi-open habitats, avoiding dense forests yet adapting well to suburban and prairie environments. During courtship, Mourning Doves engage in elaborate airborne displays. Both species primarily consume seeds, yet the Mourning Dove's diet is almost exclusively seed-based, with occasional snails, whereas Peaceful Doves may include small insects. At feeders, both enjoy millet and cracked corn. Breeding involves shared parental duties, with both doves feeding their young 'pigeon milk' or 'crop milk.'