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 CHARACTERISTICS
HABITAT & BEHAVIOURS 
Habitat:
Mourning doves tend to prefer "open" areas where they're readily able to see what's around them. Open fields, farm-land, fence-rows, low-grass meadows, your yard.
They can be seen in wooded areas and in trees that provide the same vantage-points, thinner foliage, as opposed to "heavy shade" trees.
Dirt and/or sandy areas, such as dirt roads or drives and cultivated garden or farm areas provide a comfortable space for laying on sun-drenched ground where they can bask and bathe in the much-needed and appreciated rays of a day's sun-rays, wings and tails splayed for optimum absorption of the sun's warmth and beneficial UV rays. Sandy areas also provide the "grit" they ingest to help digest their food.
If you want to have an area of your yard where they'll feel most comfortable, the best garden habitat includes open lawn, herbaceous borders, and flower beds, with scattered patches of trees and shrubs. Be sure to include a source of water, close to the ground where they can drink and bathe (being ever-mindful of potential predators).
Life Span:
https://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Doves.html
In the wild, the "average" life-span of a mourning dove is about 18 months. This is due to natural predators (owls, hawks, falcons, &c.) and, because they're "ground-feeders", and are happiest in the company of other mourning doves they tend to fall easy prey to domestic cats, in particular. Because they tend to spend much time on the ground, raccoons, opossums, even crows and snakes will "take out" a dove.
"First-year" young have a mortality rate of 60-75 per-cent for a variety of reasons, not in the least, falling from the nest and becoming a snack for predatory birds and tree-climbing predators. Adults have a 50-60 per-cent mortality rate due to hunting (by humans) and other predators who find them "easy targets or prey".
Sadly, as is mentioned else-where here, they're rather a "preferred target" for sports-folk and are "easy targets" because they tend to congregate in numbers, on the ground. (It's been said, to me: They're easy targets and though there isn't much meat on them, they're really tasty. And since they gather on the ground in flocks, you can 'spray' shot along the ground and get a lot of them at one time."
This said, when allowed to live-out their lives, even in captivity ("illegal", as posted here, on this site), mourning doves have been known to live more that 10 years and even as long as 20 years.
Mating:
Male doves: As with most species of birds, the males are larger, more robust in girth and more colourful. They tend to have a bluish-grey "crown" and a "rose coloured" breast. They can have an iridescent (green, yellowish or reddish) patch or "collar" on the neck as well.
Female doves: Females are noticeably smaller than males, more "slender" and generally the more familiar greyish-browns, beiges and greys. Their breast is a "buff, brownish-tan".
The popular "coo-WOO-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" call is most often the male's call to females, signalling readiness to mate, nest and raise a family.
"Mating season" can run from February through October.
The male will call to a prospective mate, invite her to a nesting place of his choice and she will either accept or decline. Should she accept, the male will bring the building materials, small twigs, pine needles, &c., and the female will built the nest.
During the breeding period, male and female mourning doves sleep side by side.
Nesting:
The mourning dove "nest" isn't even nearly as carefully-constructed as other birds' nests. It consists of loosely placed twigs, pine needles and other materials that are available locally.
Doves don't tend to nest in "bird houses" or the likes, but will do so in some of the seemingly-strangest places like a flower pot or planter on a porch, an exterior window sill, and there have been stories told of finding nests on vehicles left in a yard.
Doves begin nesting as early as March.
Nests can be found 5-25ft/1,5-7,5m feet above the ground, in limb crotches of shrubs or trees but very seldom any higher than 40ft/12m up.
One of the most favourite nesting materials is white-pine needles.
Young:
https://chipperbirds.com/baby-doves/
• Doves can produce up to 9 "broods" in a year, each brood consisting of 2 eggs and young.
• "Peak breeding season" is usually between April and July but, depending on the climate, it can run into October.
• Baby doves most commonly come in pairs, 2 at a time.
• Babies don't open their mouths, as do most other birds.
• The young eat a mixture called "crop milk" which is partially-to-fully digested food in the parent's crop and BOTH parents will feed their young.
• Usually, baby doves are ready to leave the nest at the age of 12-15 days.
• Early on, babies will leave the nest but are unable to fly and will be "grounded" for about 4 days to a week. *The parents don't abandon them, rather, they'll stay in close proximity to guard their off-spring.
Adults:
Mourning dove adults "mate for life" and have been known to display "mourning" and "grief" at the loss of a partner/mate.
If the mate should leave, "disappear", be lost for some reason, eventually, the survivour will find another mate at some point and produce another "family".
Both parents are active in the rearing of their young, taking turns maintaining the nest, bringing food to the young and keeping a careful eye on them until they leave the nest.
Migration:
The young are usually the first to leave followed by the females and then the males. But very often, some males will remain, even in the Northern-most regions, through the Winter, because they have little sensation in their feet, this is the time of year when they suffer frost-bite and will lose toes, feet and legs. Why some choose to remain isn't known, exactly, but it could include holding prime "mating/breeding" territory, to be "there when the ladies return" from their migration.
From their ranges in Southern Canada, mourning doves have been known to migrate even as far South as Venezuela.
Spring migration (South to North)occurs: March to May
Autumn migration (North to South) occurs: September to November
Vision: Doves see "UV" (Ultra-violet).
Above all else, make no mistake, mourning doves are capable of recognition, especially faces. Although what they see, because of their "UV vision", isn't what we see, they can, will and do recognise a face that will become familiar to them. For example, if you provide food for them on a regular basis, in a feeder, out-side, they will recognise you when you're out to fill that feeder. When they're in the house, they WILL recognise you when you walk into a room.
For a better understanding of what "UV Vision" is like:
https://fstoppers.com/lighting/photographer-reveals-secrets-hidden-your-skin-uv-light-experiment-165917
https://www.quora.com/What-does-UV-light-look-like-to-those-who-can-see-part-of-it?share=1
https://www.sensorama.world/post/the-amazing-world-of-uv-vision-seen-through-the-eyes-of-birds
Because of where their eyes are located on their head/face, doves can see a much wider scope than humans or other beings whose eyes are situated full-front. This is particularly useful for spotting predators, especially when eating or basking. Doves can see almost 360 degrees, almost to the back of their heads, and above them as well... at the same time. You'll find you can't just sneak-up on them, and this is why: they see you, almost no matter where you are. Also, because they see so much, so far, beware if you get too close to quickly, you might just elicit a defencive "peck" (which, by the way, usually won't break your skin, cause bleeding and more than likely won't even leave a "mark" so don't panic).
Diet:
Mourning doves are "granivors", "seed eaters". They're also "ground feeders", and will forage on the ground, in grasses and/or open areas, for seeds. They have been known to eat molluscs and snails when seeds aren't plentiful, and too, when breeding, and feeding their young. But their primary diet consists of seeds of various sorts. They're particularly fond of white millet, safflower, millet/milo and cracked corn and will also eat ragweed, sunflower, wheat, and pokeweed seeds. If you hope to attract them to feeders, they will eat at "feeding tables", any table or table-like platform, raised above the ground. But they will prefer foraging on the ground and if you have a hanging feeder, they'll more often be seen eating the seeds that fall from that.
Hearing:
Birds, in general, hear a smaller frequency range than humans, but they have much more acute sound recognition skills. Doves are especially sensitive to pitch, tone, timbre and rhythm changes and are able to recognise other individual birds, even in a noisy flock, as well as the voice of a particular person, which is good to know for ALL "Bird People" who have a bird in the house. A dove WILL come to recognise YOUR voice and respond to the qualities mentioned. And TALKING with a dove in your care is ABSOLUTLEY ESSENTIAL, whether it be mimicking the dove's calls or simply sitting by and "chatting". Even if your "coo-WOO-hoo-hoo" doesn't sound like a dove's "coo-WOO-hoo-hoo", yours is distinct and will come to be associated with you, especially and particularly. Remember: doves are "flocking" birds, accustomed to a social gathering. YOU are the "flock". Also, birds exist in a world of sounds, be they other birds, the splashing of a running brook, wind in the trees... and absolute silence usually indicates the presence of danger. So talking, in a calm voice, is a good habit to form. Playing recordings of various birds' calls is especially nice (and thoughtful of you). You can also play the radio, low-volume, or music... preferably instrumental, played softly. These sounds will give a dove more comfort than silence does.)
Vocalisation:
If you're able to watch as a dove coo's, you'll notice that they raise their head and appear to take a deep breath. The "throat" expands and the "coo" comes as an exhale.
The most familiar "coo-WOO-oo-oo-oo-oo" (4 "oo" following the "pitch") is usually an un-mated male calling to/for available females for mating.
There is also a "coo-WOO-oo-oo-oo" (3 "oo" following the "pitch") which is almost "conversational". If you repeat the same sequence and rhythm, you might just find yourself in a dialogue.
A "coo-WOO-oo-oo" (2 "oo" following the pitch) is rather like a call to "see if anybody's there" or to get some attention. (I hear this quite often from Yonah when I'm in another room and the house is quiet for an extended period of time. When I reply with the same sequence, the usual response is the "coo-OO-oo-oo-oo", 3 "oo" following the "pitch". When I reply in kind, there's often a full dialogue of the "3 oo" calling back and forth.)
"coo-WOO" is a call of danger or surprise, and the "OO" is usually quite pronounced, obvious and loud.
(For live web-cams of various birds in various places: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/sounds is great!)
Bathing:
Mourning doves will "sun-bathe" and "rain-bathe" by lying on the ground, but actual "bathing" for the sake of a "good bath" is done in shallow pools of water or bird baths. They're also fond of "dust-bathing" where they'll roll about in dusty sand or dry dirt, and flap their wings. Dust-bathing is helpful in the removal of any pests (insects such as mites or ticks).
Flight:
Mourning doves have been recorded flying upwards of 88,5kmh/55mph when in open space. When they fly, they emit a "whistling" sound that is produced by their wings. That's not them "calling". It's not known "why" they have this ability, but it's thought to be a "warning" of danger to other doves.
Rest: (see also: “In Home”)
Doves are unique in their sleep and rest in that, un-like most other birds, doves "tuck" their heads between their shoulders instead of bending their neck or tucking their head under their wings as do many other birds.
They prefer "perching", more often than not, over finding flat surfaces for sleeping. They will sleep on the limbs of trees rather than on what might seem to be more comfortable flat surfaces.
Although "complete silence" may be preferable over a lot of noise as they sleep, "soft" sounds, like wind in the branches, can be (but isn't always, necessarily) more assuring and relaxing.
Doves usually require about 10-14 hours of rest or sleep each day.
Moulting/Molting:
Doves, like all birds, will "moult"/"molt", shedding their feathers, from time-to-time. I find that Yonah tends to go through, what I call a "radical moult", twice a year.The downy (small, soft) feathers on his breast are usually the first to go and it's quite obvious because they settle almost every-where, from in-side his house and out onto the floor of his room. (They tend to “float” easily and will “stick” to clothing so they'll also make their way to other rooms about the house. You can't miss them.) This is accompanied by the shedding of the larger tail and wing feathers. At first, the sight of all these feathers can be shocking and concerning, but if general health is good, food and water are always fresh and clean and the house (cage, if you must) is properly cleaned and maintained and you have no reason to suspect illness, it's just “Nature” taking normal course. It's a “change of ward-robe”, as it were.
Feathers, though made of keratin, like hair and finger nails, don't continually grow. They grow to the “required” length and then stop. And when moulting-time arrives, the new feathers will begin to grow, the old feathers will loosen and drop. When the old feathers are gone, the new come along to replace them.
Be aware that moulting can be stressful to a dove (and any other bird) and proper nutrition at this time is EXTREMELY ESSENTIAL. (A little extra “Moulting Mix” in daily meals is recommended, as well as foods that are higher in calcium... egg yolks and broccoli for example.)
You might also notice that “mood and attitude” will change, as well as there might be less “vocalisation”. There might be less “playfulness”, and a bit less “affection”. During the days, “calls” and “conversations” might be noticeably less frequent. And Yonah tends to find a particular corner of his house where he spends much of a day, “resting”. He also has a place on a wall-shelf in his room, away from his house in the window, where he prefers to “hide” in any available nook that's big enough for him to settle in. (When he's in one of his “nooks”, amazingly, he tends to blend-in with most of the items around him. I've come to learn that this is a “normal” retreat and that, in the wild, moulting birds have been known to find a particular shrub or other “cover” and will stay there for a week or more, during the moult.)
Doves, and birds in general, are VULNERABLE as they moult. As wing and tail feathers drop, their ability to fly and their balance is altered. Like-wise, as body feathers are dropped and new feathers begin to grow, doves have less insulation against temperature changes. (And, since moulting usually happens in Spring and Autumn, this can be uncomfortable, to say the least. If your little one is in the house, adjusting the room temperature is in everybody's best interest. A bit of warmth, no matter the season, would be most appreciated, surely.) “Hiding” is only a natural instinct (as it would be for people as well) during this time. It's well-advised now, more than ever, to approach with consideration, to speak softly and keep gestures slow and “friendly”. Doves are, as they say, “skittish” by nature. Being so vulnerable at this time brings that out even more clearly.
Just keep in mind, this will pass, generally in a week or two, and then, with fresh, new plumage, all will be as if it never happened.
This is an excellent time to note the condition of the dropped feathers, to see where the “wear and tear” appear, how well they'd developed. And too, to look at the condition of the new feathers. Very much like finger and toe nails on people, feathers can tell quite a bit about a dove's health.
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