mourning doven. A grayish-brown, swift-flying dove (Zenaida macroura) of North and Central America, noted for its mournful call. Also called turtledove.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.mourning dove n (Animals) a brown North American dove, Zenaidura macroura, with a plaintive song Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014mourn?ing dove` n. a dove, Zenaida (Zenaidura) macroura, of North America, noted for its plaintive cooing. [1825?35, Amer.] Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.