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Are There Mourning Doves in Washington?

Mourning Doves are found in Washington, but primarily in eastern regions below higher elevations. They are uncommon in western Washington's wetter climate and dense forests. The Columbia Basin, lower Snake River valley, and other open arid areas of eastern Washington support regular populations. On [our wildlife guide](/wildlife/washington), you can learn about other birds in the state.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 20, 2026.

Mourning Dove photographed in Washington

Mourning Dove · Gavin Slater CC BY

Mourning Dove photographed in Washington

Mourning Dove · Gavin Slater CC BY

Mourning Dove photographed in Washington

Mourning Dove · Gavin Slater CC BY

Photos by iNaturalist observers, reused under the licence each observer chose.
Found in Washington
1
species recorded
294,003
GBIF records
6
birding hotspots
May, April, June
peak months

Yes, mourning doves are in Washington. Next you'll want:

Real sighting data, source iNaturalist

1,514 verified observations on iNaturalist of mourning dove have been recorded in Washington, most often in May, April, June.

When mourning dove are recorded in Washington

Mourning Doves are found in Washington, but primarily in eastern regions below higher elevations. They are uncommon in western Washington's wetter climate and dense forests. The Columbia Basin, lower Snake River valley, and other open arid areas of eastern Washington support regular populations. Onour wildlife guide, you can learn about other birds in the state.

Where Mourning Doves Are Found in Washington

Mourning Doves in Washington concentrate in the eastern half of the state where open, semi-arid habitats dominate. The Columbia Basin provides suitable grassland and sagebrush environments. Lower valleys including the Yakima Valley and Walla Walla region host established populations. Along the Snake River in eastern Washington, they occupy open benchlands and draws. The Blue Mountains foothills and Grande Ronde Valley margins support seasonal birds. Spokane County and the Palouse region in northeastern Washington have Mourning Doves, particularly near agricultural areas. Western Washington, including Puget Sound lowlands, the Cascade foothills, and the Olympic Peninsula, receives only rare sightings or vagrants. Visitour wildlife hubfor more Washington species information. Eastern Washington's drier climate provides the necessary open grassland and sparse shrub habitat they require. Seethe Mourning Dove guide for Washingtonfor more.

Seasonal Presence and Timing in Washington

Mourning Doves in eastern Washington are primarily summer residents and breeders, arriving in April and departing by September or early October. Peak abundance occurs from May through July during the breeding season. Some birds may linger into November in mild years before all populations depart. Winter sightings are rare and typically represent occasional vagrants rather than residents. Spring migration brings returning birds in late March and early April. Onour Washington wildlife guide, explore other migratory birds. Fall concentrations occur in late August and September at favorable feeding areas before migration. The timing correlates strongly with seed availability on grasses and weeds. Calling activity peaks in early morning and evening during breeding season. In western Washington, any sighting is remarkable and worth documenting.

How to Identify a Mourning Dove

Mourning Doves are medium-sized birds approximately 12 inches long with a distinctive sleek shape and long, pointed tail. Their plumage is soft gray-brown overall with subtle patterns. Males show a pink-purple iridescent sheen on the neck that females lack or display less prominently. The head is small and round with a black dot on the cheek and a thin eye-ring. Wings display black spots and barring. The tail is longer and more tapered than other Washington doves, with white edges visible in flight. Reddish-brown eyes and reddish-pink feet are diagnostic. The overall posture is upright and alert. Juveniles are more mottled and lack bright neck coloring. The soft, gentle appearance and pointed tail distinguish them from stockier pigeons. Sound is equally diagnostic: a soft, melancholy cooing call.

Where Sightings Concentrate in Washington

In eastern Washington, Mourning Doves concentrate in open areas with scattered perches and available water. Agricultural regions with grain crops, hay fields, and weedy margins attract feeding birds. Grasslands with scattered sagebrush and juniper provide ideal habitat. Open draws and river valleys including the Yakima, Snake, and Walla Walla valleys host breeding pairs. Power lines crossing open country offer prominent perching and communication sites. Ranch areas with scattered trees and open ground support populations. Suburban edges with feeders and yards appeal to some birds. Onour wildlife hub, you can explore habitats for other species. Disturbed areas including abandoned homesteads and dried-up water sources attract seed-foraging birds. Riparian areas with cottonwoods along eastern Washington streams support localized populations.

Typical Behavior and Diet

Mourning Doves feed almost exclusively on the ground, dropping to pick seeds from grasses, weeds, and grain crops. They consume grit and sand for digestive aid. These gentle birds subsist on vegetable matter only, never hunting insects or other animals. Their distinctive soft, low cooing call sounds like their name and gives them their common name. Males coo most frequently during breeding season from prominent perches. Pairs are monogamous within a breeding season and may raise two to three broods. They are swift, direct fliers despite their delicate appearance, and can dive steeply when escaping predators. Roosting occurs in trees and shrubs at dusk. They require daily access to water for drinking. Nests are simple stick platforms in trees or shrubs. Family groups gather at favorable feeding sites in late summer.

Coexistence and Legal Protection

Mourning Doves are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and cannot be harmed without proper permits. In Washington, they are classified as a game bird during designated hunting seasons. Hunting seasons and regulations vary annually and should be verified with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Regardless of legal status, these birds are gentle and pose no threat to people or pets. They compete minimally with native songbirds, utilizing different food sources and foraging strategies. In appropriate habitat, encouraging them by maintaining feeders with seed is a positive practice. They cause no damage to structures or significant crop loss in most contexts. Their presence in yards, parks, and agricultural areas generally meets with favor from landowners. No special management or control is typically needed. They are quiet and unobtrusive neighbors.

Species People Confuse With Mourning Doves

In Washington, Band-tailed Pigeons are the species most frequently confused with Mourning Doves. Band-tailed Pigeons are substantially larger with a white crescent on the nape and a white-banded tail, though they share similar coloring. Rock Doves or feral pigeons are stockier and larger with iridescent neck feathers and varied plumage. White-winged Doves from the southwest rarely stray to Washington but possess bold white wing patches. Spotted Doves from Asia are extremely rare vagrants with spotted plumage and red eye-rings. Common Ground-Doves, tiny Southwestern species, are accidental vagrants with stubbier tails and chunkier shapes. The pointed tail, sleek profile, and lack of bold markings identify Mourning Doves. Size comparison against pigeons and other regional doves helps confirm identification. Song provides another excellent diagnostic tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I hear Mourning Doves in Washington? Eastern Washington's open grasslands, agricultural valleys, and sagebrush regions offer the best opportunities, particularly the Columbia Basin, Yakima Valley, and Walla Walla Valley from April through August. Why are Mourning Doves uncommon in western Washington? The wet climate, dense forests, and different habitat structure of the Puget Sound region and western Cascades do not provide the open grassland and sparse shrub environments they require. Do Mourning Doves live year-round in Washington? Most depart by October for southern wintering grounds, though some occasionally linger into November in eastern Washington. Visitour wildlife hubfor more information about Washington birds. When do Mourning Doves breed in Washington? Breeding occurs from April through August with peak activity in May, June, and July.

Plan your trip

Best time to see mourning dove in Washington: May, April, June

See the month-by-month sighting calendar.

When to go

Plan your mourning dove sighting in Washington

294,003 verified mourning dove records have been logged in Washington, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.

Where to look in Washington

Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).

Recent mourning dove sightings

  • Oakbrook · 2026-07-20 10:20 · 1 seen
  • Walla Walla Regional Airport, Walla Walla US-WA 46.08929, -118.27962 · 2026-07-20 10:08 · 1 seen
  • Columbia NWR--Channeled Scablands Scenic Viewpoint · 2026-07-20 09:59 · 1 seen
  • Little Spokane River NA--Indian Painted Rocks · 2026-07-20 09:16 · 4 seen
  • LSH 2 · 2026-07-20 09:11 · 2 seen

Planning a trip to see mourning dove? Find places to stay near Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve on Booking.com.

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