Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura. Common and widespread across the U.S., some traveling north into Canada for breeding season and to southern Mexico for winter. They prefer semi-open habitats and lightly wooded urban environments. Their diet consists of seeds, also swallowing small stones and sand to help with digestion. Doves are similar to pigeons, but they are genetically different. Doves tend to be smaller with fan-shaped tails while pigeons are larger and have straighter tails. The shape of the wings and feathers of the Mourning dove are such that they produce a whistling sound when taking to flight. This can be observed in several other species as well.