Birds of North Carolina - their Distribution and Abundance

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

COLUMBIDAE Members:

Mourning Dove 322

General Comments

This is arguably one of most widespread and common birds in the state, being found from the coast to the mountains, though scarce at higher elevations. Hundreds of thousands of Mourning Doves are harvested annually by North Carolina hunters, yet the population seems to have been reasonably stable/constant for many decades. The species occupies about as many habitats as any bird in the state -- residential areas, towns, farms, agricultural areas, open woods, and woodland edges are many of its haunts. It even occurs inside forests, to some extent, but mostly avoids marshes, as well as high elevation areas.

Breeding Status

Breeder

NC BRC List

Definitive

State Status

none

U.S. Status

Definitive

State Rank

S5B,S5N

Global Rank

Coastal Plain

Permanent resident, perhaps with some migratory movements. Common to abundant throughout, even on barrier islands. Peak counts:

Piedmont

Permanent resident, perhaps with some migratory movements. Very common to abundant throughout. Peak counts:

Mountain

Permanent resident, with migratory movements. Common to very common at lower and middle elevations in the warmer months; common in winter in the lower elevations (below 2,500 feet), but mostly only uncommon to fairly common in winter from 2,500 - 3,500 feet. Not numerous above 3,500 feet in the breeding season, and scarce above that elevation in winter. Peak counts:

Finding Tips

None needed.