The mourning dove is a common bird found throughout North America. It gets its name from its distinctive cooing call that sounds like it is mourning. But why exactly is this bird named after grieving and sadness? In this article, we will explore the reasons behind the mourning dove’s sorrowful moniker.
The mourning dove’s call sounds like lamenting
The most obvious reason the mourning dove got its name is because its call sounds like it is grieving. The mourning dove has a distinctive, plaintive coo that evokes a sense of sadness and lamentation.
Here are some key facts about the mourning dove’s call:
- The call consists of 5-6 drawn out, plaintive coos.
- It sounds like the bird is saying “wooo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo.”
- The coos taper off at the end as if fading away.
- The mourning dove will repeat its call many times, especially in the spring and summer.
When heard from a distance, the mournful cooing of a mourning dove does resemble the lamenting cries of someone grieving a loss. This distinctive vocalization is likely why it earned the name “mourning dove.”
Their appearance evokes a sense of sorrow
In addition to its sorrowful voice, the mourning dove’s visual appearance also seems to suggest a melancholic, mourning state. Here are some ways the mourning dove looks like it is grieving:
- Its feathers are muted gray, tan, and brown – somber colors.
- It has a rounded, almost fluffy profile that appears droopy.
- Its eyes seem large, dark, and sorrowful.
- It walks at a melancholy pace with its head bobbing.
The mourning dove has a soft, subdued presence that evokes the feeling of quiet grief. When coupled with its lamenting call, you can understand why people would name it a “mourning” dove based on its total visual and audio experience.
They mate for life
Another possible origin of the “mourning” name comes from the mourning dove’s mating habits. Mourning doves form monogamous pair bonds and mate for life.
Here are some key facts about mourning dove pairs:
- They find a mate during the spring/summer breeding season.
- Once bonded, the pairs will stay together year-round.
- If one dove dies, the other will often mourn the loss with loud cooing.
- The surviving mate may never find a new partner, remaining single the rest of its life.
If humans anthropomorphize the mourning doves and imagine them grieving for their deceased partners, it could seem as if they are mourning. Their loud cooing once their mate dies does make them sound like they are lamenting the loss. This mating pattern may be another factor contributing to why they earned the name “mourning” doves.
Their history is tied to grief and loss
Looking back through history, mourning doves have long been symbols of grief, loss, and mourning – a meaning that became attached to their common name. Here are some historical connections between mourning doves and mourning:
- Ancient Greek and Roman myths linked mourning doves to tragic love.
- In the Bible, mourning doves symbolized loss and were used as offerings.
- Victorian era art often depicted mourning doves to convey grieving.
- Mourning doves appeared on tombstones and monuments to loss.
Given these long-standing associations with mourning, it is easy to see how the bird’s common name became tied to grief and sadness. The cultural connections reinforced the link between mourning doves and mourning in the popular imagination.
Their depiction in popular media
Modern references to mourning doves in popular media continue to reinforce the link between their name and grieving. Here are some examples:
- Movies and TV shows will often feature mournful cooing in sad scenes depicting grief or loss.
- Animated films like Bambi depict mourning doves crying after tragic events.
- Comic strips and cartoons frequently use mourning doves as symbols when someone dies or feels sad.
- Literature will mention mourning doves cooing in the background after characters suffer tragedy.
The use of mourning doves as auditory symbols of grief and visual symbols of loss in today’s media continues the historic association between the birds and mourning.
They remind people of loss and sadness
Given all these factors, the persistent connection between mourning doves and feelings of grief appears deeply ingrained. When people hear their mournful coos and see their somber appearance, it evokes thoughts of loss and sadness.
Some examples of how mourning doves make people think of mourning include:
- Hearing their coos after losing a loved one.
- Noticing them alone and imagining they miss their mate.
- Feeling melancholy when watching them slowly pace and bob their heads.
- Hearing their cries at dusk evoking the end of a day.
For all these reasons, the sight and sounds of mourning doves trigger a deep-seated association with grief, sorrow, and mourning in many people. This emotional reaction helps perpetuate their name and connection to loss.
Conclusion
In summary, mourning doves earned their sorrowful common name from a variety of factors:
- Their distinctive mournful cooing
- Their visual appearance
- Their lifelong pair bonds
- Their historic symbolic ties to mourning
- Their use in media as symbols of grief
- The sadness people feel hearing and seeing them
Together, these influences solidified the cultural conception linking mourning doves to grief, loss, and mourning. So next time you see a mournful mourning dove, listen to its woeful call, and observe its sorrowful demeanor, you’ll better understand why they call it a mourning dove.
| Reason | Description |
|---|---|
| Call sounds like lamenting | Their cooing sounds mournful and sad |
| Appearance | Their look seems droopy and sorrowful |
| Mate for life | Mourn the loss of a mate by cooing |
| History | Long symbolic ties to grief and loss |
| Media depictions | Used to represent sadness in books, films, etc. |
| Evokes sadness | People associate them with feeling melancholy |
Key Facts About Mourning Doves
- Scientific name: Zenaida macroura
- Average length: 9 to 13 inches
- Wingspan: 17 inches
- Weight: 4 to 6 ounces
- Coloring: Gray, tan, brown, white
- Defining features: Long pointed tail, slender profile, small head
- Common sounds: 5-6 coo repetition
- Found in: Acros the Americas
- Habitats: Open country, woodland edges, suburban areas
- Diet: Seeds, fruits, grasses
- Lifespan: 1 to 5 years
- Conservation status: Least concern
5 Interesting Mourning Dove Facts
- Mourning doves can produce up to 6 broods per year from February to October.
- They can fly at speeds between 30-55 mph.
- Mourning doves eat roughly 12 to 20 percent of their body weight per day.
- Their cooing call can be heard from up to 1/2 mile away.
- Mourning doves have special growths in their esophagus that let them drink water continuously.
