- mourning dove
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a dove, Zenaidura macroura, of North America, noted for its plaintive cooing.[1825-35, Amer.]
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They have long, pointed tails, and the sides of the neck are violet and pink. Their name comes from their call's haunting, mournful tone. Mourning doves are migratory; the northernmost populations migrate the farthest south. They are popular game birds. See also dove.Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)Alvin E. StaffanThe National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers* * *
▪ bird(Zenaida macroura), a member of the pigeon order Columbiformes, the common wild pigeon of North America having a long pointed tail and violet and pink on the sides of the neck. This game bird may live up to 16 years in captivity; however, most mourning doves live only 4 or 5 years in the wild. First-year mortality is about 80 percent. These doves migrate south in the winter; the most northward-living ones migrate the farthest south.* * *
Universalium. 2010.