Bird field guide · Pigeons and Doves

Photographing the Mourning Dove

How to photograph the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April and May).

25–40 cm1/2500–1/3200 s
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Photo: © Timothy Lindsey, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Timothy Lindsey via iNaturalist
25–40 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2500–1/3200 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/7.1
Aperture
289,320
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2500–1/3200 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/7.1
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionBird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens300–500 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 32 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)176 mm262 mm118 mm88 mm
10 m (33 ft)353 mm525 mm235 mm176 mm
15 m (49 ft)529 mm787 mm353 mm264 mm
20 m (66 ft)705 mm1,050 mm470 mm353 mm
30 m (98 ft)1,058 mm1,574 mm705 mm529 mm
50 m (164 ft)1,763 mm2,624 mm1,175 mm882 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 6% Jan Feb: 7% Feb Mar: 10% Mar Apr: 17% Apr May: 13% May Jun: 9% Jun Jul: 9% Jul Aug: 8% Aug Sep: 8% Sep Oct: 4% Oct Nov: 4% Nov Dec: 5% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April and May.

About the Mourning Dove#

The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family, Columbidae. The bird is also known as the American mourning dove or the rain dove, and erroneously as the turtle dove, and was once known as the Carolina pigeon or Carolina turtledove. It is one of the most abundant and widespread of all North American birds.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Common subjects for practising flight shots.
  • Bird-eye AF with continuous focus (AF-C/AI Servo); fill at least a third of the frame.
  • Sightings peak in April and May, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Pigeons and Doves#

Rock Pigeon Rock PigeonColumba livia White-winged Dove White-winged DoveZenaida asiatica Eurasian Collared-Dove Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto Inca Dove Inca DoveColumbina inca Band-tailed Pigeon Band-tailed PigeonPatagioenas fasciata Common Ground DoveColumbina passerina Ruddy Ground Dove Ruddy Ground DoveColumbina talpacoti White-tipped Dove White-tipped DoveLeptotila verreauxi

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Mourning Dove?

At about 32 cm long, a mourning dove fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 353 mm, or at 20 m with 705 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Mourning Dove?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2500–1/3200 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Mourning Dove?

Observations in North America peak in April and May. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources