Bird sounds include cooing, chirping and singing. Because these animals cannot communicate with words as humans can, they have developed a way to communicate with each other without the use of speech. Doves for one, coo at each other. You may be wondering if they coo at night as well as in the morning, this article looks into it. If you’re a bird watcher, future dove owner or are simply curious this article will shine some light on the topic.

Doves coo at night and during the day, the reason doves coo at night is because they are trying to attract a mate. Cooing can also help the doves that choose to mate with each other to communicate during the nighttime. If they aren’t cooing they’re sleeping

 Do doves coo at night

Bird sounds can keep you up at night, these animals don’t generally stay up all night but they can if need be. Birds, doves included, generally sleep when it gets dark but will stay up if necessary.

If you hear cooing at night and are wondering what it is then it’s probably doves cooing.

The most likely reason for a dove to coo at night is that it is trying to attract a mate.

Once the male has attracted a female and they have established a nest, either bird may coo at night to pass a message to the other bird such as a danger warning or a call to the nest. 

How to stop doves from cooing?

If the cooing dove is a pet, then you have to find a solution that accommodates your pet.

You may add an opposite gender dove to keep the other one company but be prepared for a nest of little doves. You may transfer its roost outdoors and see if it can attract a suitable mate.

In this case, you will have to consider building outdoor artificial living quarters for both birds that will include potential baby doves. 

If the dove is not a pet, then you may take more aggressive measures to keep the dove away. Some of these measures include:

1. Get rid of anything that attracts the birds, especially items of food that the birds like to feed on. 

2. Use a dove scarecrow. Doves are scared away by larger birds that prey on them, especially hawks. Use a dummy of a larger predatory bird to scare them away.

3. Use a non-invasive net to screen off the area where you don’t want the birds to approach. 

Why do turtle doves coo?

Turtle doves coo primarily to charm an opposite gender dove.

Some birds have a more elaborate display of sounds, wing flapping and feet stomping when charming their opposites. We may find those more entertaining, and the cooing of the turtle dove may sound depressing.

Armed with this knowledge, you may decide to tolerate the cooing. If the cooing is not acceptable to you, then you may take the measures discussed earlier to repel the doves. 

Turtle doves also coo to mark their territory. Doves of the same gender will stay away from the cooing of another dove. If another dove comes too close, the birds will fight to determine who keeps the nesting area. 

Why is it called a mourning dove?

All around the world, there are many different ways in which people express grief especially over the death of a loved one.

However, it is universal for people to cry after the official grieving process over the loss. That is the long and sad mourning that comes to mind when the cooing of the mourning dove is heard.

It evokes memories of a sad mourning rite that many have gone through or observed in others. 

What does it mean when a dove coos at you?

Many cultures throughout the world assign variable meaning to a dove’s cooing.

Most agree on the healing effect it may have on someone who needs to have their low feelings validated. There is no scientific evidence to prove that there is special meaning when a dove coos at you.

However, it is wise to respect people’s culture and acknowledge the implication they place on a dove’s coo.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, doves will coo at night to catch the attention of their mate or a prospective mate. If they get together these two might also coo together in the nest to communicate with each other.

Doves also coo to warn other doves of predators or as a call to nest. Turtle doves will coo to attract the opposite gender. 

If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in:  What do baby doves eat? All you need to know, Male diamond dove pecking female, why and what to do, Diamond dove illnesses that you should look out for, Do female doves bow and coo?, What do baby collared doves eat?