120: Why Mourning Doves Are EVERYWHERE (And What Makes Them So Unique) | Birding Explained

Learn about Mourning Doves, one of the most common birds in North America, and why their behavior, calls, and breeding habits make them so unique. This birding and birdwatching podcast breaks down dove behavior, ecology, and identification for beginners and experts alike. We’re taking the week off for the holiday, but we didn’t want to leave you bird-less—so we’re re-sharing one of our favorite episodes, all about the mourning dove, one of North America’s most familiar and fascinating backyard birds.Fun fact: mourning doves can store an unbelievable amount of food in a specialized throat pouch before flying off somewhere cozy to digest it… which, honestly, sounds exactly like our Thanksgiving plans.If you’ve listened before, you know Shannon has very strong feelings about mourning doves—so revisiting this one made for an especially hilarious and insightful re-run. Join John Bates, Shannon Hackett, Amanda Pole, and RJ Pole as we explore mourning dove behavior, feeding strategies, their iconic call, and why this gentle species inspires so many mixed emotions.We’ll be back next week with brand-new bird episodes, including deep dives on the Varied Thrush and the flamingo.Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Grab your binoculars—and let’s get into it.Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky