The Eurasian collared dove and the mourning dove are two closely related doves that are easily confused. Telling them apart matters to hunters in the USA: the Eurasian collared dove is an introduced species that in most states can be hunted all year with a licence, while the mourning dove can only be hunted in the hunting season, which in most states opens on 1 September (dates vary by state).
Origins and Distribution
The Eurasian Collared-Dove
The Eurasian collared dove is native to Europe and Asia. A small number escaped or were released in the Bahamas in the mid-1970s, and birds reached Florida by the early 1980s.
The invasion continued in the ensuing years and the bird spread rapidly, colonizing most of the USA and parts of Canada and Mexico. It is now common across much of North America.
Note the use of the word invasion – this is a key point. Eurasian collared doves are not native North American birds.
The Mourning Dove
The mourning dove is also one of the most common and familiar birds all across the American continent, found from southern Canada south through Mexico, with some birds wintering as far as Central America.
The Mourning dove gets its name from its distinctive call.
Unlike the Eurasian collared dove, however, the mourning dove is a native bird to North America.
Ways to Tell the Difference Between a Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove
Appearance and distinguishing characteristics
The mourning dove has five recognized subspecies, while the Eurasian collared dove has one or two, depending on the authority. The differences between subspecies are subtle and hard to see in the field.
The Eurasian collared dove is the bulkier and heavier bird, at about 30 cm (12 in) long. The mourning dove is slimmer, and its long tail makes it 23–34 cm (9–13 in) long.
It is in the coloring that the main difference is evident.
The Eurasian collared dove has an almost pink tinge to its chalky light brown to grey buff body plumage.
The mourning dove is more earthy brown in color and also has distinctive black spots on its wings.
Another way to identify the different birds is by their tails. The Eurasian collared dove has a squared-off tail whereas the tail of the mourning dove is pointed.
The last physical appearance difference worth noting is that an adult mourning dove has a black cheek smudge whereas the Eurasian collared dove has a narrow, black-bordered white crescent (collar) on the back of its neck that gives the bird its name.
You will often find flocks of mourning doves perching on things like telephone wires.
Mourning doves are slim birds with a fast, direct flight. Eurasian collared doves also perch on wires and can gather in large flocks, especially in winter.
Calls And Sounds
The male Eurasian collared dove has a very distinctive call that follows a ‘koo KOO kook’ pattern which they use to both attract mates and defend their territories.
The call is often repeated several times in a row.
When a Eurasian collared dove is alarmed or excited, it will produce a ‘hwaah’ sound, and in terms of other noises, males also clap their wings together when displaying during a flight.
Mourning doves have perch coo that is mostly produced by males who are looking for a mate.
It sounds like a soft ‘coo coo’ that can be followed by three or four louder ‘coos’ if they become insistent!
Paired males will give a three-part call when building a nest with their mate that resembles a ‘coo OO oo’, and a female mourning dove will sometimes produce an ‘ohr ohr’ noise when sitting on the built nest.
Another noise difference between the Eurasian collared dove and the mourning dove is that when taking off and landing, a mourning dove will make a loud whistling sound that has the effect of startling predators and warning their fellow flock mates.
Why Recognising the Two Birds is Important
It was mentioned earlier that the Eurasian collared dove is not a native bird to North America. It is in fact, an invasive species (opens in new tab).
This status is significant and is why it is important to be able to tell the difference between the mourning dove and the Eurasian collared dove.
The birds’ status drives the hunting laws.
As an introduced species, the Eurasian collared dove can be hunted all year round in most US states with a hunting license, often with no bag limit. The mourning dove can only be hunted in the hunting season, which in most states opens on September 1st every year (end dates vary by state).
In the UK, there is no general hunting license, but shooters need a shotgun certificate (opens in new tab) and must follow the regulations on hunting (opens in new tab) set out in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
In the US, mourning doves are migratory game birds and can only be hunted in season with a state hunting licence, while Eurasian collared doves are not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Seasons and limits vary by state, so check with your state wildlife agency.
Mourning doves are extremely rare vagrants in the UK, and attitudes to pigeons and doves are a little different there.
Although there is little biological difference, doves are often seen as birds to protect while pigeons are often seen as pests.
Most pigeon shooting in the UK is of woodpigeons, done for crop protection or for the table.
Always check the current rules before shooting any bird.
With the collar, the tail shape and the call in mind, you should be able to tell these two species apart.
Last updated 31 October 2026 · Types