The Mourning Dove is one of the most widespread and familiar bird species in Arizona, commonly seen across deserts, grasslands, farmlands, suburban yards, and city parks. Recognizable by its soft gray-brown plumage, black spots on the wings, and long pointed tail edged with white, it is best known for its mournful, cooing call that gives the species its name. Mourning Doves are medium-sized pigeons, measuring about 9–13 inches in length with a wingspan of 17–18 inches, and weighing between 3.4–6 ounces. In Arizona, they are year-round residents, though their numbers swell in spring and summer as migrants from northern regions arrive to breed. They nest readily in a variety of habitats, often building flimsy stick nests in trees, shrubs, or even on man-made structures, and can raise multiple broods in a season thanks to their rapid reproductive cycle. Their diet consists mainly of seeds, which they forage on the ground, and they are especially attracted to agricultural fields and backyard feeders offering millet, cracked corn, or sunflower seeds.
