mourning dove

noun

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

mourning dove

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mourning dove¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

Downtown's Pershing Square supports mourning doves, Vaux's swifts, gopher snakes and exotic streaktails, a type of fly that feeds on aphids.

From Science Daily

He had heard the woeful sounds of a mourning dove, but that was the wrong kind of pigeon.

From Literature

“We see ducks down here. They see frogs and turtles, different birds like red wing blackbirds and mourning doves,” Tursi said.

From Seattle Times

Before Merlin, I’d always assumed the distinct “coo” I heard was from a mourning dove.

From Seattle Times

There are rock wrens, nighthawks, mourning doves and lark buntings.

From Seattle Times