Do You Know Your Doves?

While staying in Florida, I happened to look out a window and saw a dove at the far edge of the property. Nothing particularly exciting about that. Except, it was the smallest mourning dove that I had ever seen. Too small. My curiosity got the better of me and I busted out my binoculars for a closer look. Sure enough…an orange bill…mourning doves don’t have orange bills. And with that extra bit of detail and a quick field guide reference, I was delighted to add the common ground dove (Columbina passerine) to my life list.

The range of the common ground dove doesn’t extend as far north as Illinois, so little chance for mistaken identity of that species here. If you see a dove in Illinois, it is most likely to be a mourning dove. But the mourning dove isn’t the only dove species found in Illinois. And if your chosen pursuit is hunting rather than just bird watching, it is important to know your doves so that you do not exceed your limit.

Mourning Dove

Known as much for its mournful call as for its appearance, the mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of the most frequently hunted species in North America. A native, year-round resident, this species of dove can be found throughout Illinois. Small-headed, plump-bodied birds, mourning doves are fast, powerful fliers. Buffy brown and gray above with a peach-washed underside, this dove sports a blue eye-ring, dark eyes, a slender, grayish-black bill, pinkish-red legs, large black spots on the wing coverts and a small black spot on either side of the neck. The tail is long and slender and looks like a narrow fan when the bird is in flight. Males have iridescent slate blue and peach feathers on the head and neck. The juveniles look like adults but have a whiter face and back feathers that are tipped with white.

White-winged Dove

White-winged doves (Zenaida asiatica) are about the same size and coloring as mourning doves, but they have several distinctive differences. White-winged doves have orange eyes, grayish undersides, and short, white-tipped tails. They lack black spots on their covert feathers but have a larger black spot on their cheeks. These doves have dark primary wing feathers and distinctive white patches on their wings that can clearly be seen whether they are perched or flying. When seen from below while they are flying, the broad fan-shape of the tail and the prominent band of white tail feathers are the keys to distinguishing these doves from mourning doves. Their call is also less melodious than the call of the mourning dove. Native to Mexico and the southwestern U.S., the first recorded sighting in Illinois was in 1998. As its range has continued to expand, this dove has been seen throughout Illinois.

Eurasian Collared-Dove

The Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is not native to Illinois and did not naturally expand its range here. According to The Cornell Lab, this species was introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s, arrived in Florida in the 1980s, and since then has colonized most of the U.S. except for the northeast (so far). There are reports of Eurasian collared-doves in Illinois occurring in the early 1980s. These doves are larger than mourning doves but have similar, but more muted, sandy-brown coloring. Besides their size, their distinguishing characteristic is the black collar on the back of the neck. They have long, square-shaped tails with a band of white at the tip and gray undertail coverts. The song of the Eurasian collared-dove is described as a soft, koo-koo-kook. These doves can be seen roosting together in trees in flocks of a dozen or so birds, but they gather in the hundreds in some parts of their new range.

Ringed Turtle-Dove

The ringed turtle-dove (Streptopelia risoria) is a domesticated form of the African collared-dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea). These birds were first documented in Illinois in Joliet in 1982, and were most likely released birds. They are rarely seen as wild birds in North America and can be difficult to distinguish from the Eurasian collared-dove. Ringed turtle-doves are a creamy buff color with a black band on the back of the neck.

Dove Hunting in Illinois

Mourning doves and white-winged doves can be hunted statewide in Illinois during the hunting season. Check the Hunt Illinois website or the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2023-2024 for season dates and limits.

Eurasian collared-doves and ringed turtle-doves may also be harvested during the hunting season and do not count toward the dove harvest limit. This spring, these two species were added to the list of non-protected birds in the Illinois Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5/2.2). There are no limits on how many Eurasian collared-doves and ringed turtle-doves may be taken while hunting, but they may only be harvested during the established season dates and hours and only using the legal methods used for mourning doves and white-winged doves. Hunters may not remain in the field to take Eurasian collared-doves or ringed turtle-doves after they reach their daily limit for mourning or white-winged doves.

While non-toxic shot is not required on all hunting areas, upland and small game hunters are encouraged to use steel or other non-toxic shot types to spare doves and other wildlife from potential lead poisoning. Hunters should be aware that several IDNR sites now require the use of non-toxic shot. See pages 41-42 in the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2023-2024 for the list of sites.

Annual registration with the National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) is required for all dove hunters in Illinois. You also need to have a valid hunting license and a state habitat stamp. Some Illinois Department of Natural Resources sites also require a lottery-based permit to hunt on managed fields.

Each year, wildlife biologist across the county spend part of their summer banding mourning doves. For successful hunters who happen to harvest a leg-banded dove, don’t forget to report the dove band online. The information is used by biologists to maximize hunting opportunities while also regulating harvest to protect dove populations.

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Laura Kammin is a Natural Resources Specialist with the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. She formerly held positions at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, University of Illinois Extension, Prairie Rivers Network and the Illinois Natural History Survey. She received her master’s degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.