About Zenaida aurita (Temminck, 1809)
The Zenaida dove (Zenaida aurita) measures approximately 28–30 cm (11–12 in) in length. It closely resembles the mourning dove, but is smaller overall, has a shorter, more rounded tail, and has slightly darker plumage. It can also be told apart from the mourning dove by the white trailing edge visible on its wings when in flight; the mourning dove lacks this white marking.
The Zenaida dove breeds across the entire Caribbean region and the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula; one of its known example habitats is the Petenes mangroves. John James Audubon reported that this species breeds in the Florida Keys, but there are only three verifiable records of Zenaida doves from Florida. It occurs in a wide range of open and semi-open habitats. Its low, mournful cooOOoo-coo-coo-coo call is similar to the mourning dove's call, but delivered at a faster pace. This bird is a resident species and remains abundant across most of its range. Zenaida doves are commonly hunted as game birds.
