Mourning Dove

Zenaida macroura

Slender and graceful with soft gray-brown plumage, a small head, and a long pointed tail, the Mourning Dove is one of North America's most abundant birds. Its mournful cooing call is a familiar sound in backyards, farms, and open woodlands. One of the fastest fliers among North American birds, it can reach speeds over 55 mph.