Georgia’s diverse habitats support a fascinating variety of dove species, each bringing its own character to the state’s landscapes. From the ubiquitous mourning dove’s melancholic song echoing across suburban yards to the diminutive common ground dove scurrying beneath roadside vegetation, these birds have adapted remarkably well to both natural and human-modified environments.
Whether you’re exploring pine forests in the northern mountains, agricultural fields in the Piedmont, or coastal plains near Savannah, understanding which doves call Georgia home will enhance every outdoor moment.
This guide walks you through identification features, behaviors, and habitat preferences for four distinct dove species that grace the Peach State.
1. Mourning Dove
The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) reigns as Georgia’s most abundant and recognizable dove species. In Georgia, doves are abundant and found throughout the state, thriving in virtually every habitat type from mountain valleys to coastal regions.
Their presence has become so woven into the state’s natural soundscape that many Georgians consider their haunting calls the quintessential soundtrack of dawn and dusk.
Physical Characteristics and Field Marks
Mourning doves present an elegant, streamlined profile that distinguishes them immediately from stockier dove species. Adults measure 9-13 inches from bill to tail tip, with soft grayish-brown upperparts transitioning to a warm, peachy-beige breast.
Their most reliable field marks include distinct black spots scattered across the wing coverts, a long, tapered tail edged with bold white feathers visible in flight, and a small black spot positioned just below and behind each eye.
When observed closely, you’ll notice additional subtle details: a delicate blue eye-ring surrounding dark eyes, a pinkish wash across the neck and breast (more pronounced in males), and grayish-blue coloring on the crown.
Their bills appear small, curved, and entirely black, while their legs and feet show a dull reddish tone. The overall impression is one of graceful proportions—long-winged, small-headed, and distinctly streamlined.
Habitat and Distribution Throughout Georgia
The Mourning Dove is common year-round throughout Georgia where favorable habitat is present. These adaptable birds occupy open woodlands, agricultural fields, suburban gardens, city parks, and even urban areas. They show a marked preference for environments where trees meet open ground, providing both secure nesting sites and accessible foraging areas.
Pro Tip: During fall and winter, mourning dove populations swell dramatically as northern migrants pass through or winter in Georgia, making these seasons particularly rewarding for observation.
In Georgia specifically, dove nests commonly are located in the branches of pine trees, but also have been found on vine-covered trellises, window ledges and even old abandoned vehicles.
This remarkable adaptability to human structures explains their success across Georgia’s changing landscapes. They thrive particularly well in the state’s agricultural regions, where harvested grain fields provide abundant food sources.
Behavior and Vocalizations
The mourning dove’s namesake call—a mournful, drawn-out “cooOOoo-woo-woo-woooo”—ranks among North America’s most recognizable bird sounds.
Unmated males produce this plaintive cooing most frequently, though females occasionally give softer versions. When taking off, their wings make a sharp whistling or whinnying sound created by air rushing through their feathers, serving as both an alarm signal and identification feature.
Their flight pattern alternates between rapid, powerful wingbeats and graceful glides. During breeding season, which extends from late February through early October in Georgia, males perform spectacular courtship displays—ascending steeply into the air before spiraling downward in wide, dramatic circles with stiff, fixed wings.
Feeding Ecology
Mourning doves maintain an almost exclusively granivorous diet, with seeds comprising over 99% of their food intake. They feed by walking methodically across open ground, swallowing seeds whole and storing them in their crop—an enlarged portion of the esophagus.
The record is 17,200 bluegrass seeds in a single crop, demonstrating their remarkable capacity. Once their crop is filled, they retreat to safe perches to digest their meal.
In Georgia’s agricultural regions, mourning doves take advantage of waste grain from corn, millet, and sunflower fields. They also consume seeds from native grasses, weeds, and forbs.
At backyard feeders, they readily accept millet, sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and safflower seeds, though they strongly prefer feeding on the ground or on low platform feeders rather than elevated perches.
Nesting and Reproduction
| Nesting Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Cycle Duration | 28 days total (14 days incubation + 14 days chick-rearing) |
| Clutch Size | Almost always 2 white eggs |
| Broods Per Year | Multiple broods (3-6 in Georgia’s favorable climate) |
| Nest Construction | Flimsy platform of twigs in trees, shrubs, or structures |
| Parental Care | Both sexes incubate eggs and feed young |
Part of brood rearing involves feeding squabs on “pigeon milk” – a milk-like substance secreted by the crop gland of adult doves and pigeons. Pigeon milk is nutritious and energy rich and the squabs grow quickly. This unique adaptation allows dove parents to feed their young without needing to catch insects, enabling their remarkably long breeding season.
Conservation and Hunting Status
In terms of harvest, they are the number one game bird in the country and in Georgia. In fact, more doves are harvested than all other migratory game birds combined.
Despite this heavy hunting pressure, mourning dove populations remain robust due to their prolific breeding capabilities. In 2002, approximately 1.6 million doves were harvested in Georgia alone, yet population surveys show stable or increasing numbers.
2. Eurasian Collared-Dove
The Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) represents one of the most successful avian invasions in North American history. Sightings of the Eurasian Collared-Dove in Georgia were first reported in the 1980s, and this invasive dove is now a regular breeding bird in Georgia.
It is most common in urban centers such as Atlanta and Savannah. Within just a few decades, this species has established thriving populations throughout Georgia’s metropolitan areas and continues expanding its range.
Identification Features
Eurasian collared-doves are noticeably larger and stockier than mourning doves, measuring 11-12 inches in length with a heavier build. Their most diagnostic feature—the narrow black collar wrapping around the back of the neck—gives them their common name and provides instant identification.
Unlike the thin collar, which appears as a crisp half-ring, the overall plumage shows uniform pale grayish-tan or buff coloration without the spotted wing pattern characteristic of mourning doves.
Additional field marks include a squared-off tail (rather than pointed), which displays a distinctive white terminal band when fanned or viewed in flight.
The underwings flash dark primaries during flight, creating a contrasting pattern with the paler body. The eyes appear red, surrounded by narrow rings of bare skin, while the bill is black and the legs show a mauve or pinkish tone.
Habitat Preferences in Georgia
Key Insight: Eurasian collared-doves show a marked preference for human-modified landscapes and are rarely found in natural woodlands, making them distinctly suburban specialists.
You’ll most commonly encounter these doves in Georgia’s suburban neighborhoods, city parks, shopping center parking lots, and around agricultural facilities. They demonstrate a clear affinity for areas with buildings, power lines, and ornamental trees—environments that mourning doves utilize but don’t require.
Since the 1990s this dove has since been encountered as a regular breeding bird in urban habitats of Georgia, and is also reported as a visitor outside of the breeding season. While these doves aren’t migratory, they are highly dispersive after the breeding season, and as a result show up in areas where they normally don’t breed.
Vocalizations and Behavior
The Eurasian collared-dove’s call differs markedly from the mourning dove’s plaintive cooing. Listen for a distinctive three-syllable “coo-COO-coo” or “kuk-kooooo-kuk,” with strong emphasis on the middle syllable. This repetitive calling often occurs from exposed perches on rooftops, telephone wires, or tall trees, making it one of the more conspicuous sounds in suburban Georgia soundscapes.
These doves display notably bold behavior around humans, readily visiting backyard feeders and often dominating feeding stations due to their larger size. They frequently perch on utility wires, building ledges, and other man-made structures—behaviors that further distinguish them from more woodland-oriented species.
Breeding Biology
Eurasian collared-doves breed prolifically throughout most of the year in Georgia’s mild climate, potentially raising up to six broods annually.
They construct the same type of flimsy platform nests as mourning doves but show even greater willingness to nest on human structures, including building ledges, hanging planters, porch beams, and covered entryways. Both parents share incubation duties for 14-18 days, and both feed the young on crop milk before transitioning to regurgitated seeds.
Population Status and Ecological Impact
The Eurasian collared dove, an exotic import, is becoming more common each year in Georgia. The dove is about one-third bigger than a mourning dove; it has a distincitive black collar around the back of its neck, and instead of having a pointed tail like a mourning dove, the collared dove has a squared-off tail. The birds are considered non-game and do not count against your daily limit of doves.
Unlike many introduced species that face population declines, Eurasian collared-doves continue expanding throughout Georgia with no signs of stabilization.
While initially there were concerns about competition with native doves, research suggests their impact on mourning dove populations remains minimal as they occupy slightly different ecological niches—the collared-dove’s preference for suburban areas versus the mourning dove’s broader habitat use creates some separation between the species.
3. White-Winged Dove (Rare)
The white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica) stands as Georgia’s rarest dove species, offering an exciting discovery for dedicated birdwatchers. While this species thrives in the southwestern United States and Texas, it appears in Georgia primarily as a vagrant or non-breeding visitor.
The White-winged Dove used to be a bird of remote desert areas. But as a result of adapting to man-made habitats, it is now a common breeding bird in cities and towns across the southern US, and shows up in Georgia as a regular visitor outside of the breeding season.
Distinctive Field Marks
White-winged doves measure 11-12 inches in length, similar in size to Eurasian collared-doves but with distinctly different markings. The species’ namesake feature—bold white wing crescents along the leading edge of each wing—provides the most reliable identification mark. These white patches appear prominent both when the bird is perched and especially dramatic during flight, creating striking white lines against darker wing feathers.
Additional diagnostic features include a rounded (not pointed or squared) tail with white corners visible in flight, distinctive orange-red eyes surrounded by blue orbital skin (sometimes described as blue “eye shadow”), and a dark line running across the cheek.
The overall body color appears brown-gray with subtle purple iridescence on the neck. Males and females look similar, though males may show slightly richer coloration.
When and Where to Look
In Georgia, white-winged doves appear most frequently during fall migration (September through November) and winter months (December through February), though sightings remain unpredictable. When they do occur, reports often come from:
- Suburban areas with mature trees and active bird feeders
- Agricultural regions where they may join flocks of mourning doves
- Parks and green spaces, particularly those near water sources
- Coastal areas of Georgia, especially around Savannah
Important Note: Always report white-winged dove sightings to the Georgia Ornithological Society or eBird, as these records contribute valuable data about the species’ range expansion and movement patterns.
Behavioral Characteristics
White-winged doves produce a distinctive call often phonetically described as “who-cooks-for-you,” quite different from other Georgia dove species. Their flight appears powerful and direct, with rapid wingbeats similar to mourning doves.
When foraging, they show preferences for feeding situations where trees are nearby for quick escape routes, reflecting a more cautious nature compared to the thoroughly habituated Eurasian collared-doves.
Unlike mourning doves that feed almost exclusively on the ground, white-winged doves commonly feed both on the ground and above ground level on seedheads, berries, and raised bird feeders. This feeding flexibility reflects their adaptation to various food sources in their native southwestern range.
Range Expansion Potential
During the twentieth century, habitat loss and heavy hunting led to a serious drop in White-winged Dove populations in Texas—from as many as 12 million to fewer than 1 million by 1939. But with proactive management of hunting and the species’ ability to adapt to urban living, the population rebounded to some 2.2 million by 2001, and its range is still expanding.
This remarkable population recovery, combined with the species’ increasing adaptation to urban environments, suggests that white-winged doves may eventually establish breeding populations in Georgia.
Some ornithologists predict that as climate patterns shift and the species continues its eastward expansion from Texas and Oklahoma, southern Georgia could see the first breeding attempts in coming decades. Each documented sighting helps scientists track this potential colonization.
4. Common Ground Dove (Localized)
The common ground dove (Columbina passerina) holds the distinction of being North America’s smallest dove species, roughly the size of a large sparrow. Common Ground Doves are quite common breeding birds in Georgia and year-round residents in the state, though their distribution within Georgia remains primarily restricted to the southern coastal plain regions.
Size and Appearance
At just 6-7 inches in length and weighing merely 26-40 grams, common ground doves are dramatically smaller than other Georgia dove species. Their diminutive proportions often lead observers to initially mistake them for sparrows until closer observation reveals their dove characteristics. The body appears plump and compact, with a very short tail, short rounded wings, and a thin bill.
The plumage shows overall dusty brown tones with a distinctive scaly pattern covering the head, neck, and breast—fine, dark edges on each feather creating a scaled appearance.
Males display a slate-gray crown and pinkish-gray underparts, while females appear more uniformly gray throughout. Both sexes show dark spotting on the wing coverts, and the bill displays a distinctive yellow base with a black tip, while pink feathers surround the bill’s base.
Flight Pattern Recognition
When flushed from the ground, common ground doves spring into flight with a characteristic soft rattling or whirring sound produced by their wings. In flight shows chestnut patches in the wing and dark sides of the tail with small white corners.
These bright rufous wing patches flash dramatically during flight, providing instant identification even at a distance. The short black tail shows small pale corners, contrasting with the white-edged tail of mourning doves.
Habitat and Distribution in Georgia
Common ground doves occupy a more restricted range within Georgia compared to mourning doves. They’re most reliably found in the southern coastal plain, particularly in areas near the coast. Their preferred habitats include:
- Open pine woodlands with sandy understory
- Brushy fields and early successional habitats
- Agricultural edges with nearby cover
- Suburban yards and gardens in southern Georgia
- Roadsides with adjacent vegetation
They nest on the ground, which makes them vulnerable to predators. This explains why these doves are so well camouflaged, which allows them to blend in with their surroundings.
This ground-nesting strategy requires habitat with adequate vegetation for concealment—one reason they’re less common in heavily manicured suburban areas than in more naturalistic settings.
Behavioral Observations
Common Mistake: Don’t overlook areas of bare ground beneath shrubs and vegetation—common ground doves often forage in shadows where their camouflage makes them nearly invisible until they move.
Common ground doves typically walk along the ground in pairs or small groups, moving with a distinctive shuffling gait. They’re relatively retiring birds that often go unnoticed until they flush from underfoot or their calls draw attention.
Another great way to identify them is by their repetitive coo-ing call, which is audible even if you can’t catch a glimpse of the bird since it’s hidden in thick scrub. The call consists of soft, rising “woop” notes repeated in series, sometimes described as a moaning quality.
Feeding Habits
Common ground doves forage almost entirely on the ground, walking slowly while pecking at seeds. They consume a wide variety of small grass seeds, weed seeds, and occasional waste grain from agricultural operations.
It’s estimated that a Common Ground Dove has to eat more than 2,500 seeds every day to meet its energetic demands, reflecting the energy requirements of their small body size.
At backyard feeders, they readily visit feeding stations that offer seeds on the ground or low platforms. They show particular fondness for millet, shelled sunflower seeds, and other small seeds scattered beneath feeders.
Unlike mourning doves that venture far from cover to feed in open fields, common ground doves typically stay closer to protective vegetation.
Breeding and Life History
Common ground doves form permanent pair bonds, mating for life. Nesting occurs primarily on the ground, though they occasionally build nests in low shrubs or cacti.
The nest is a simple, minimal structure—ground nests consist of slight depressions with minimal lining, while elevated nests are loose platforms of fine twigs and grasses.
Females typically lay two smooth white eggs, indistinguishable from Inca dove eggs. Both parents incubate for 12-14 days and feed young on crop milk. In Georgia’s favorable climate, they may successfully raise 3-4 broods per year, taking advantage of the extended growing season to maximize reproductive output.
Conservation Considerations
While common ground doves remain fairly common within their preferred Georgia habitats, they face challenges from habitat loss.
The conversion of open pine woodlands and early successional habitats to intensive agriculture or residential development reduces suitable nesting and foraging areas. Fire suppression policies have also altered vegetation structure in ways that may disadvantage this species.
Conclusion
Georgia’s four dove species each tell a unique story of adaptation and survival. The mourning dove’s remarkable abundance demonstrates the benefits of generalist strategies and prolific breeding.
The Eurasian collared-dove’s rapid continental colonization showcases invasive species’ potential when they encounter favorable conditions.
The white-winged dove’s gradual range expansion hints at ongoing ecological changes that may reshape Georgia’s avian communities. And the diminutive common ground dove reminds us that specialized adaptations—from ground-nesting behavior to cryptic plumage—remain viable strategies in specific ecological niches.
By learning to distinguish these species through their field marks, calls, and behavioral quirks, you’ll gain deeper insights into Georgia’s diverse bird life. Keep your binoculars accessible, maintain awareness of seasonal patterns, and don’t hesitate to document unusual sightings.
Every observation contributes to our collective understanding of how these adaptable birds continue thriving alongside Georgia’s human communities and within the state’s cherished natural areas.
