Mourning Dove Population Status, 2026

This report summarizes information collected annually in the United States on survival, fecundity, abundance, and harvest of mourning doves.  

The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of the most abundant bird species in North America and is familiar to millions of people. Authority and responsibility for management of this species in the United States (US) is vested in the Secretary of the Interior. This responsibility is conferred by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 which, as amended, implements migratory bird treaties between the U.S. and other countries. Mourning doves are included in the treaties with Great Britain (for Canada) and Mexico. These treaties recognize hunting as a legitimate use of the renewable migratory bird resource. 

Maintenance of dove populations in a healthy, productive state is a primary management goal. Management activities include population assessment, harvest regulation, and habitat management. Each year, tens of thousands of doves are banded and thousands of wings from harvested doves are analyzed to estimate annual survival, harvest rates, recruitment, and abundance. The resulting information is used by wildlife managers in setting annual hunting regulations.