Mourning Dove

- Common throughout southern Arizona

- Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) are songbirds with soft brown and gray feathers, small heads, and long tails
- They are named for their owl-like cooing sound
- Mourning doves are considered a spiritual messenger of love, faith, and peace
- They are often associated with the holiday season and are considered a universal symbol of peace
- Some believe that seeing a mourning dove is a sign of hope, love, and freedom