Mourning doves are a common species of dove found throughout North America. They are known for their mournful cooing sound, which led to their name. However, they are also sometimes called “morning doves”, which leads to the question – why are mourning doves called morning doves?
The Origins of “Mourning Dove”
The common name “mourning dove” refers to the mournful cooing sound the birds make. Their scientific name is Zenaida macroura. Zenaida refers to the daughter of Zeno, a Greek philosopher, while macroura comes from the Greek words for “large” and “tail”.
The mournful cooing sound of these doves likely led to associations with grief and mourning. Their call has been described as sounding like “woo-oo-oo-oo” with a plaintive or lamenting tone. This distinguishes them from other doves that have a more cheerful-sounding coo.
The name “mourning dove” has been traced back to at least the 1700s. Mark Catesby’s natural history book from 1731 describes the bird as the “Carolina turtle-dove, or mourning dove”. Another early name used was the “carrion dove”, likely because they were observed feeding on carrion.
By the 1800s, “mourning dove” became the widely accepted common name, due to the sad-sounding nature of their call. Ornithologist Alexander Wilson wrote in 1811 that their call “is uttered with a plaintive tone, so very different from the voice of any other dove”. The mourning dove’s association with grief and mourning solidified over time.
How “Morning Dove” Originated
“Morning dove” emerged as an alternate name partly due to mishearing “mourning” as “morning”. However, there are a few reasons why “morning dove” is also an apt description:
- Mourning doves are most active and vocal in the morning.
- Their cooing is one of the early morning bird songs heard by many people.
- The mournful, plaintive tones have been poetically described as heralding the dawn.
The early morning calling of mourning doves led some people to interpret their name as “morning dove” rather than “mourning dove”. Additionally, their cooing voices welcoming the sunrise lent to pastoral associations with morning time.
Mourning Dove Morning Habits
Mourning doves exhibit peak activity at dawn and dusk, meaning the morning hours are a prime time to hear their vocalizations.
They roost on branches or wires overnight, then fly down to feed on the ground at sunrise. Mourning doves coo frequently just before flying down from their roosts.
Throughout the morning they emit their mournful coo call, as well as make whistling sounds from the motion of their wings during flight. This peek calling and flying activity in the early morning hours led to associations with the morning time.
Mourning Dove Coos Heard as “Morning”
The mournful cooing of the mourning dove has a soft, plaintive tone. To some listeners, it evokes a peaceful morning mood.
Poet William Cullen Bryant wrote that the birds “melancholy call, welcom’s the dawn”. Their vocalizations have been described as sounding sad yet beautiful, befitting an early morning refrain.
The doves typically coo loudest just before sunrise, welcoming in the breaking light. People would awaken to the soft, echoing coos sounding “woo-ahh woo-oo-oo”, leading to misinterpretations or reinterpretations as “morning” doves.
Regional Differences
There are some regional differences in whether these birds are primarily known as “mourning doves” or “morning doves”.
Mourning Dove
“Mourning dove” is the most widespread and common name, used throughout most of the United States. However, some specific regions show more prominence for “morning dove”:
Morning Dove
- Northeast U.S.: New England and Mid-Atlantic regions more commonly use “morning dove”
- Upper Midwest U.S.: More common in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin
- Western states: Used more in Rocky Mountain states like Montana and Wyoming
So while “mourning dove” dominates overall, regional dialects lend more popularity to “morning dove” in certain parts of the country.
Usage in Culture
The use of “mourning dove” versus “morning dove” can be seen in literature, songs, and cultural references:
Literature
- Mourning dove used in works by Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman, Harper Lee
- Morning dove used in regional contexts like in Willa Cather’s Nebraska novels
Music
- “Mourning Dove” song by Larry Sparks
- “Morning Dove” song by Patty Loveless
Place Names
- Mourning Dove Lane (common street name)
- Morning Dove Trail (more localized street name)
In these examples, “mourning dove” shows up in more widespread usage, while “morning dove” occurs regionally or in specific contextual references to morning.
Conclusion
In summary, the common name “mourning dove” refers to the sad-sounding cooing of these birds, which reminded early observers of mourning and grief. The alternate name “morning dove” emerged from mishearings of “mourning” as well as references to the doves’ morning singing. While their mourning call dominated as the primary name, regional dialects and literary contextual usages led to the alternate morning dove name thriving in some areas and works.
So the gloomy mourning dove is called that thanks to its melancholic song, but in some cases also finds itself renamed the morning dove, thanks to its dawn singing bringing light to some listeners’ ears.