When Doves Gather

Every night for the past couple of weeks, this tree that borders the Nashua River and is visible from our mill apartment window has hosted a large gathering of Mourning Doves.

This isn't a nightly gathering of just a few doves. Several evenings, we have counted upwards of 30 doves, while other evenings there have been less than half that number.

We have a front-row seat nightly as the doves usually arrive by our dinner time and our table is by the window. They start arriving one-by-one anywhere between 6 and 6:30 pm and remain anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. All take flight by sunset.

Apparently, this behavior is not unusual and according to online information, Mourning Doves, when not breeding or nesting, will often form large flocks and can be seen perching on tree branches, telephone wires and lamp posts in groups of 12 or more. 

We've noticed that this current nightly sit-in is very peaceful with as many as four or five doves sharing the same tree branch. The most activity is that the doves preen their feathers.

An online check of the term for a collection of Mourning Doves produced several terms for a group of doves, including: cote, dole, bevy, flight and dule (French word for mourning). Their name derives from their soft distinct and sorrowful coo-ing calls which is usually coming from a male seeking a mate. Doves have been known to watch over a deceased mate, try to care for them and return to the place where the bird died. They will eventually seek a new mate.

The Mourning Dove is a small-headed dove with a graceful, slender-tail, light gray and brown and generally muted in color with well-defined black spots on their wings. Their pointed tails are longer than those of other doves enabling the birds to fly fast; they have been clocked at 55 mph. Males and females are similar in appearance, the species is generally monogamous.

The Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. Also known as the American mourning dove, the rain dove and colloquially as the turtle dove. It was once known as the Carolina pigeon and Carolina turtledove. 

Unfortunately, as the most widespread and abundant game bird in North America, these birds have a high mortality rate. Hunters harvest more than 20 million annually, yet the Mourning Dove remains one of the most abundant birds with a U.S. population estimated at 350 million. Predators include raccoons, hawks, owls, squirrels, snakes, cats and dogs. Disease and weather extremes also take a toll on young and adult doves.

How long we'll continue to witness this nightly gathering is uncertain. But, as long as the doves gather on this tree near our window, we'll be watching these peaceful birds.

Hopefully, they will remain in this area through the winter; however many move south in late fall. If fellow blogger David G. can provide additional information, it would be appreciated.

Has anyone else seen a similar gathering where you live?