mourning dove

American  

noun

1. a dove, Zenaidura macroura, of North America, noted for its plaintive cooing.

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mourning dove British  

noun

1. a brown North American dove, Zenaidura macroura, with a plaintive song

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Etymology

Origin of mourning dove

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Compare meaning

How does mourning-dove compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• turtledove vs. mourning dove

Example Sentences

One of the birds was a mourning dove and the other a European starling.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2025

The lament of a mourning dove is accompanied by the shrill urgency of a red-winged blackbird flitting between field and power line.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2022

Tomorrow: Defenders of the mourning dove fight back.

From Washington Post • May 8, 2022

The oblivious mourning dove outweighs many rivals, but proves relatively peaceful.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 28, 2021

A mourning dove called from the tall grass along the wash, and below the cliffs the speckled cattle were grazing.

From "Ceremony:" by Leslie Marmon Silko