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

A Fish and Wildlife special agent collected the bodies of two birds at the site, a redhead duck and a mourning dove.

From The Daily Beast

In one individual, a Mourning Dove, the origin of pars lateralis of M. pterygoideus dorsalis extended to the pterygoid.

From Project Gutenberg

The mourning dove is a cosmopolitan species found in greater or less numbers in all sections.

From Project Gutenberg

The white-winged dove is nearly one-half larger than the common mourning dove.

From Project Gutenberg

The mourning dove is so well known in every country that a description of it is unnecessary.

From Project Gutenberg

The sobbing cry of the mourning dove, which they had been hearing all day, suddenly assumed new meaning.

From Project Gutenberg