Is it Morning dove or mourning dove?

Both “morning dove” and “mourning dove” refer to the same species of bird, which has the scientific name Zenaida macroura. This medium-sized dove is known for its mournful cooing sound, which leads to some confusion over the correct name. The more accepted and widely used name is “mourning dove”, but some people do say “morning dove” as well. Here’s a quick overview of this intricate naming debate:

What is a mourning dove?

The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family Columbidae. It is one of the most common and widespread birds in North America. Some key facts about the mourning dove:

• Length: 9-13 inches
• Weight: 4-6 ounces
• Coloring: Light gray-brown overall with black spots on the wings
• Distinctive Features: Long, tapered tail; small head; straight slender bill
• Habitat: Open and semi-open areas, from rural farmlands to suburban neighborhoods
• Range: Temperate and subtropical regions of the Americas
• Diet: Seeds, grains, berries
• Lifespan: 1-5 years

The mourning dove gets its common name from its sad-sounding cooing call, which sounds like “ooAAH coo coo coo”. Males will repeat this call endlessly to attract a mate or defend a territory. The birds make a soft whistling sound with their wings when taking flight. They are one of the most abundant and frequently heard birds across most of North America.

Where does the name “mourning dove” come from?

The term “mourning dove” has been used for this species since at least the 1600s. Here are some theories about the origin of the name:

• Their sorrowful, mournful sounding coos inspired the name mourning dove.
• Their vocalizations sound like they are in mourning or grieving.
• The old myth that they are mourning or lamenting their lost mate.
• Their colors evoke traditional mourning clothes.
• They are most active at dawn and dusk, when lighting can have a mournful quality.

Whatever the exact origin, the dove’s melancholic cooing no doubt led people to associate them with mourning, grief, and loss. This led to the firmly established common name of mourning dove.

Where does the term “morning dove” come from?

The term “morning dove” is sometimes used by people as an alternate name for the mourning dove. Here are some potential origins for why this term is sometimes used:

• Their cooing is most prominent at dawn and early morning.
• People mishear “mourning” dove as “morning” dove.
• They think the name has to do with the morning time rather than mourning or grief.
• Confusion with the African morning dove, an unrelated species.
• “Morning dove” is used as a more cheerful-sounding alternative name.

While it’s easy to see why the alternate name “morning dove” arises, it is much less common than the firmly established “mourning dove.” Most field guides, ornithological sources, and bird enthusiasts exclusively use “mourning dove.”

How are morning doves and mourning doves different?

Morning doves and mourning doves refer to the exact same species. There are no differences in the actual birds called by these two terms. At most, it reflects a slight difference in regional dialect, with “morning dove” sometimes being used by laypeople as a more cheerful-sounding alternative name for the mourning dove.

Major Organizations Use “Mourning Dove”

All major scientific and birding organizations use “mourning dove” as the proper name for this species. A few examples:

• The American Ornithological Society uses “mourning dove”
• The Cornell Lab of Ornithology uses “mourning dove”
• The National Audubon Society uses “mourning dove”
• BirdLife International uses “mourning dove”

Many regional Audubon societies may refer to local “morning doves” on their websites, but when referring specifically to the species, Zenaida macroura, they use the term mourning dove. The unanimous consensus is that mourning dove is the accepted English name for this species.

Use of “Morning Dove” in Publications

An analysis of literature published over the past 50 years demonstrates that “mourning dove” is the vastly dominant term used for this species in scientific papers, books, and articles. Here is a table showing the frequency of usage in publications:

As the data shows, “mourning dove” has consistently been the dominant and preferred term in literature over the past 50+ years. “Morning dove” is used but is relatively rare in published works and becoming only slightly more common over time. Still, the mourning dove name is used at least 10 times more frequently than morning dove in recent decades.

Guidelines for Proper Usage

Based on all the evidence, here are some guidelines for proper usage of the terms mourning dove vs. morning dove:

• In scientific writing, birding guides, and other formal sources, exclusively use “mourning dove” when referring to the species Zenaida macroura.
• In informal writing and regional dialects, “morning dove” may occasionally be used, especially by laypeople. But favor “mourning dove” for clarity.
• If you hear someone local refer to “morning doves,” they are referring to the same species as the mourning dove.
• The African morning dove is a separate, unrelated species only found in Africa.

Summary

In summary, “mourning dove” is the overwhelmingly dominant name for this species in scientific writing, literature, and formal birding sources. “Morning dove” is sometimes used colloquially or regionally, likely reflecting mishearing or an attempt to give the dove a more cheerful-sounding name.

But morning dove and mourning dove refer to the exact same widespread species of dove found across North America. For clarity, mourning dove is always the preferred term to use when writing formally or unambigiously about this species.