Are There Mourning Doves in Wyoming?
Yes, Mourning Doves are found in Wyoming as summer residents and breeders in lower elevation valleys and open areas. They are absent from high mountain regions and migrate south in late fall. Wyoming's sagebrush valleys, grasslands, and river corridors provide suitable breeding habitat. Learn more on [our Wyoming wildlife guide](/wildlife/wyoming).
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 · Public domain CC0
Mourning Dove · Cody Stricker CC BY
Mourning Dove · Cody Delano CC BY
- 1
- species recorded
- 50,150
- GBIF records
- 6
- birding hotspots
- July, May, June
- peak months
Yes, mourning doves are in Wyoming. Next you'll want:
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
122 verified observations on iNaturalist of mourning dove have been recorded in Wyoming, most often in July, May, June.
When mourning dove are recorded in Wyoming
Yes, Mourning Doves are found in Wyoming as summer residents and breeders in lower elevation valleys and open areas. They are absent from high mountain regions and migrate south in late fall. Wyoming's sagebrush valleys, grasslands, and river corridors provide suitable breeding habitat. Learn more onour Wyoming wildlife guide.
Where Mourning Doves Are Found in Wyoming
Mourning Doves occur primarily in Wyoming's lower elevation valleys and open basins rather than high mountain regions. The Bighorn Basin supports healthy populations in grasslands and sagebrush areas. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's lower elevations, particularly open valleys around Livingston and north-central Wyoming, host breeding pairs. The Wind River valley and foothills provide suitable habitat with scattered trees and open ground. Eastern Wyoming's grasslands and agricultural areas support populations, particularly in Laramie and Cheyenne regions. The Powder River Basin's sagebrush grasslands attract breeding birds in spring and summer. Southern Wyoming's lower valleys including areas around rock springs support seasonal residents. Onour wildlife hub, explore other Wyoming species. Wyoming's high mountain valleys and peaks above eight thousand feet receive only rare vagrant sightings. The state's semi-arid character and scattered riparian trees create pockets of suitable habitat statewide. Seethe Mourning Dove guide for Wyomingfor more.
Seasonal Presence and Timing in Wyoming
Mourning Doves are summer residents in Wyoming, arriving in late March and April from southern wintering grounds. Peak abundance occurs from May through August during the breeding season. By late September and early October, most birds depart on their southbound migration to Mexico and Central America. Occasional stragglers may linger into November during mild autumns. Winter sightings are extremely rare, representing unusual vagrants rather than residents. Spring arrival correlates with warming temperatures and snowmelt. Peak calling activity occurs from May through July with maximum vocalization during early morning and evening hours. Onour Wyoming wildlife guide, learn about year-round resident birds. Flocking occurs in late August and September at favorable feeding sites before migration. Migration occurs in small to moderate flocks rather than large concentrations.
How to Identify a Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves are medium-sized birds approximately 12 inches in length with a distinctively pointed and elongated tail. Their overall plumage is soft gray-brown with subtle patterning throughout. Males display an iridescent purple-pink sheen on the neck that becomes especially prominent in bright sunlight. Females show duller and less vibrant neck colors. The head is small and rounded with a black spot on the cheek and a thin pale eye-ring. Wings display black spots and fine barring. The tail is noticeably longer and more tapered than other Wyoming doves and pigeons. White edges on the tail feathers become visible in flight. Reddish-brown eyes and reddish-pink feet are consistent field marks. The overall posture is alert and upright. Juveniles are more mottled and lack the bright iridescent neck patch. The pointed tail and sleek silhouette clearly distinguish them from stockier pigeons. The soft, low cooing call provides the easiest and most reliable identification clue.
Where Sightings Concentrate in Wyoming
Mourning Doves concentrate in open areas with scattered trees or shrubs and ground feeding opportunities throughout Wyoming's lower elevation regions. Agricultural areas including grasslands, hay fields, and grain crops attract dense populations. Open sagebrush grasslands provide ideal habitat in the state's characteristic landscape. Riparian corridors with scattered cottonwoods and willows along streams and rivers support populations. Ranch yards with scattered trees and open ground attract pairs and families. Parks and open areas around towns and villages in valley locations host breeding birds. Power lines crossing open country offer favorite perching and communication sites. Onour wildlife hub, find habitat details for other Wyoming species. Draws and open valleys where vegetation provides perching combined with open ground for foraging concentrate sightings. Disturbed areas including parking areas and roadsides attract seed-foraging birds despite human activity.
Typical Behavior and Diet
Mourning Doves feed almost entirely on the ground, foraging methodically for seeds from grasses, weeds, and grain crops. They consume grit and sand to aid the digestion of hard seeds. These birds are strict herbivores, subsisting entirely on plant material year-round. They require daily access to drinking water, typically visiting sources during morning and evening hours. The distinctive cooing call, which produces their common name, is delivered by males from elevated perches. Males establish and defend territories through persistent calling during breeding season. Pairs are monogamous within each breeding season and may raise two to three broods. Nesting occurs in trees, shrubs, or occasionally on structures using simple stick platforms. Flight is swift and direct with the ability to perform steep dives when escaping predators. Roosting occurs in trees and shrubs at dusk. Late summer flocking occurs at favorable feeding sites before southbound migration.
Coexistence and Legal Protection
Mourning Doves are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and cannot be harmed without special permits. Wyoming classifies them as a game bird during designated hunting seasons, with regulations varying annually. Current hunting seasons and bag limits should be verified with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Regardless of legal hunting 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 times. Providing sunflower seeds or millet at feeders benefits them while also attracting other species. They cause minimal damage to structures or crops in most situations. Their presence in yards, parks, and farmland generally meets with favor from residents. No special management or control measures are typically needed. Their soft cooing is non-disruptive to communities and neighborhoods.
Species People Confuse With Mourning Doves
In Wyoming, Band-tailed Pigeons are occasionally encountered, particularly in forested mountain regions, and may be confused with Mourning Doves. Band-tailed Pigeons are substantially larger with a distinctive white crescent on the nape and a white-banded tail. Rock Doves or feral pigeons are stockier and larger with metallic iridescent neck feathers in shades of blue, green, and bronze. Common Ground-Doves, tiny southwestern species, are accidental vagrants with stubbier proportions and a chunky appearance. White-winged Doves from the southwest occasionally appear as rare vagrants with bold white patches on the wings. Spotted Doves from Asia are exceedingly rare vagrants with spotted plumage and red eye-rings. The pointed tail, sleek silhouette, and lack of bold white or iridescent patches identify Mourning Doves. Size and shape comparisons against other regional pigeons eliminate confusion reliably. The distinctive soft cooing call confirms identification definitively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I hear Mourning Doves in Wyoming? Lower elevation valleys and open basins including the Bighorn Basin, Greater Yellowstone lower elevations, Wind River valley, and eastern Wyoming grasslands offer the best opportunities from May through August. Why do Mourning Doves coo? Males coo to establish territories and attract mates, particularly during the breeding season from April through August when calling is most persistent. Do Mourning Doves live in Wyoming year-round? No, they are strictly summer residents, departing in late September and October for southern wintering grounds. Visitour wildlife hubfor information about other Wyoming birds. When do Mourning Doves breed in Wyoming? Breeding occurs from April through August, with some pairs raising multiple broods within a single breeding season.
Plan your trip
Best time to see mourning dove in Wyoming: July, May, June
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your mourning dove sighting in Wyoming
50,150 verified mourning dove records have been logged in Wyoming, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Wyoming
- Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Devils Tower National Monument · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fossil Butte National Monument · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Grand Teton National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Yellowstone National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- California National Historic Trail · Find hotels
- Wyoming Hereford Ranch · 274 species recorded
- Hutton Lake NWR · 235 species recorded
- Laramie River Greenbelt Trail · 232 species recorded
- Wyoming Hereford Ranch Reservoir #1 · 229 species recorded
- Lions Park (Cheyenne) · 228 species recorded
- McManamen Park · 228 species recorded
Birding hotspots via eBird (Cornell Lab).
Recent mourning dove sightings
- LAK Reservoir area · 2026-07-20 07:53 · 12 seen
- Hudson (town) · 2026-07-20 07:43 · 1 seen
- Devil's Tower NM--Belle Fourche River Campground · 2026-07-20 06:37 · 3 seen
- Peaks Rd - yard · 2026-07-19 19:31 · 2 seen
- Devils Tower NM · 2026-07-19 18:36 · 1 seen
More wildlife in Wyoming