Although their names sound poetic, Mourning doves are not some fantasy bizarre birds. In fact, anyone has probably seen them at least once in their lives.

These doves have a narrow tail and a small head. They’re mostly brown and gray and are seen in cities and urban areas more than perhaps any other bird.

They usually perch on telephone wires and look for seeds or bread crumbs on the ground. So if you leave some seeds outside your window or in your backyard, chances are you’ll face plenty of Mourning doves soon.

Their interesting name is inspired by their calls which are soft and drawn-out like a lament. Mourning doves are agile and swift when it comes to flying. Even their take-off makes a sharp whistling sound which only adds to their graceful behavior.

Doves are not very good at defending themselves and they are frequently hunted by hawks, squirrels, snakes, raccoons, owls, dogs, cats, and even humans.

Nevertheless, their population still stands strong as one of the most abundant birds with an estimated 350 million doves in the United States alone. Outside cities, Mourning doves can be found in open woodlands, nesting, and mating on scattered trees.