Dove Population Status Report
On average, Texas accounts for 32% of the total mourning dove harvest and 87% of the total white-winged dove harvest in the United States each year. Approximately 350,000 hunters take the field in Texas annually, resulting in a yearly economic impact of $316 million ($521 million when adjusted for inflation) (Southwick and Allen 2007).
Regular monitoring of dove populations is essential to effectively managing and conserving such an important recreational and biological resource. Since 2008, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has conducted rural and urban dove surveys using distance sampling (Buckland et al. 1993) each May-June to estimate annual spring breeding abundance except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report provides updated results on the status of breeding dove populations in Texas for 2026. Estimates are calculated and reported by Bird Conservation Region (BCR) (Bird Studies Canada 2014, US NABCI Committee 2000) in Texas (Figure 1). A comprehensive report that includes survey results from 2008-21 and detailed descriptions of survey and analyses methodologies was released in 2021 (Fitzsimmons et al. 2021).
Bird Conservation Regions
- Central Mixed Grass Prairie
- Chihuahuan Desert
- Edwards Plateau
- Gulf Coast Prairie
- Oaks and Prairies
- Pineywoods
- Shortgrass Prairie
- Tamaulipan Brushlands
Status Statewide
This section highlights trends in annual statewide abundance, percent composition of statewide abundance by BCR — both current year and long-term average (2008-25), and rural and urban abundance estimates by BCR for mourning and white-winged doves in Texas.
Mourning Dove
Mourning doves are the most popular and numerous game bird in the US, with a range that extends throughout most of North America. Texas supports a large population of both resident and migratory mourning doves.
From 2008-26, statewide abundance ranged from a low of 19.8 million in 2022 to a high of 37.5 million in 2016. The 2026 statewide estimate of 36.7 million is a 2% increase from 2025 and 29% above the long-term average (Figure 2). An estimated 88% of mourning doves observed occurred in rural areas compared to urban areas (12%) in 2026 (Figure 3), and, on average, densities in urban areas were 2.7 times greater than in rural areas.
On average, nearly 80% of the state's mourning doves occur in 4 BCRs every year — the Shortgrass Prairie (31%), Oaks and Prairies (26%), Tamaulipan Brushlands (12%), and Central Mixed Grass Prairie (10%) (Figure 4). Notable regional changes for 2026 include record high abundance estimates in both the Central Mixed Grass Prairie and the Tamaulipan Brushlands BCRs, which increased 6% and 54% from 2025, respectively, as well as a 179% increase in estimated abundance in the Chihuahuan Desert from 2025. Abundance in the Shortgrass Prairie BCR decreased 37% in 2026. The Oaks and Prairies BCR saw a slight 5% decline from 2025 but remains 13% above average. Abundance estimates in all BCRs were above long-term averages this year (range: 9-162%), except for the Pineywoods (-3%) and the Shortgrass Prairie (-17%) (see Status-Regional section below).
Figure 2. Combined rural and urban breeding abundance of mourning doves. The long-term average (2008-25), represented by the orange line, is 28.5 million.
Figure 3. Statewide mourning dove abundance by survey type — Rural, based on Modified Call-Count Surveys (MCCS) and Urban, based on Urban Dove Surveys (UDS).
Figure 4. Percent composition of statewide mourning dove abundance in Texas Bird Conservation Regions long-term average 2008 to 2025 and 2026.
White-winged Dove
Historically found along the Texas-Mexico border, white-winged doves have expanded across most of the state since the 1990s and continue to expand range-wide throughout much of the southern US. Outside of the historic range, white-winged doves are strongly associated with urban habitat in Texas.
From 2008-26, estimated statewide abundance ranged from a low of 6.7 million in 2008 to a high of 12.9 million in 2026. The statewide abundance estimate of 12.9 million for 2026 is a 10% increase from 2025 and 25% above the long-term average (Figure 5). An estimated 78% of white-winged doves observed occurred in urban areas compared to rural areas (22%) (Figure 6), and, on average, densities in urban areas were 62 times greater than in rural areas in 2026.
On average, nearly 80% of the state's white-winged doves are found in the Oaks and Prairies (34%), Tamaulipan Brushlands (23%), Gulf Coast Prairie (12%), and Edwards Plateau (11%) BCRs each year (Figure 7). In 2026, white-winged dove abundance increased in the Chihuahuan Desert an estimated 122%, reaching a new regional high. Abundance decreased in the Central Mixed Grass Prairie (-11%), Edwards Plateau (-19%), and Pineywoods (-28%) BCRs. Abundance in all remaining BCRs increased 2-17% from 2025 (see Status-Regional section below).
Figure 5. Combined rural and urban breeding abundance of white-winged doves. The long-term average (2008-25), represented by the orange line, is 10.3 million.
Figure 6. Statewide white-winged dove abundance by survey type — Rural, based on Modified Call-Count Surveys (MCCS) and Urban, based on Urban Dove Surveys (UDS).
Figure 7. Percent composition of statewide white-winged dove abundance in Texas BCRs; long-term average (2008-25) and 2026.
Status Regional
by Ecoregion
This section highlights regional trends in annual abundance (2026 Population Estimate), percent change from 2025 to 2026 (Percent Change Year-over-year), and percent difference between the 2026 estimate and 2008-25 long-term average (Percent Change Long-term average).
Bird Conservation Region - Central Mixed Grass Prairie 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 4,549,082, which is a 6% increase from last year and 49% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 656,016, which is an 11% decrease from last year and 8% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 4,549,082 | 6% | 49% |
| White-winged Dove | 656,016 | -11% | 8% |
Bird Conservation Region - Chihuahuan Desert 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 2,716,246, which is a 179% increase from last year and 89% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 1,431,599, which is a 122% increase from last year and 200% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 2,716,246 | 179% | 89% |
| White-winged Dove | 1,431,599 | 122% | 200% |
Bird Conservation Region - Edwards Plateau 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 1,705,774, which is a 13% increase from last year and 9% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 574,318, which is a 19% decrease from last year and 48% below the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 1,705,774 | 13% | 9% |
| White-winged Dove | 574,318 | -19% | -48% |
Bird Conservation Region - Gulf Coast Prairie 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 1,537,126, which is a 7% increase from last year and 19% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 872,734, which is a 13% increase from last year and 25% below the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 1,537,126 | 7% | 19% |
| White-winged Dove | 872,734 | 13% | -25% |
Bird Conservation Region - Oaks and Prairies 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 8,306,262, which is a 5% decrease from last year and 13% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 3,731,957, which is a 2% increase from last year and 6% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 8,306,262 | -5% | 13% |
| White-winged Dove | 3,731,957 | 2% | 6% |
Bird Conservation Region - Pineywoods 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 1,607,923, which is a 12% increase from last year and 3% below the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 112,259, which is a 28% decrease from last year and 11% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 1,607,923 | 12% | -3% |
| White-winged Dove | 112,259 | -28% | 11% |
Bird Conservation Region - Shortgrass Prairie 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 7,413,450, which is a 37% decrease from last year and 17% below the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 1,023,645, which is a 14% increase from last year and 14% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 7,413,450 | -37% | -17% |
| White-winged Dove | 1,023,645 | 14% | 14% |
Bird Conservation Region - Tamaulipan Brushlands 
The 2026 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 8,828,030, which is a 53% increase from last year and 162% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
The 2026 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 4,426,190, which is a 17% increase from last year and 86% above the long-term average (2008-2025).
| Dove | 2026 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 8,828,030 | 53% | 162% |
| White-winged Dove | 4,426,190 | 17% | 86% |
Literature Cited
- Bird Studies Canada and North American Bird Conservation Initiative Committee. 2014. Bird Conservation Regions. Published by Bird Studies Canada on behalf of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. www.birdscanada.org/research/gislab/index.jsp?targetpg=bcr
- Buckland, S. T., D. R. Anderson, K. P. Burnham, and J. L. Laake. 1993. Distance sampling: estimating abundance of biological populations. Chapman and Hall, London, UK.
- Fitzsimmons, O. N., R. R. Fern, S. L. Oldenburger. 2021. Dove population status and harvest, 2021. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, TX.
- Southwick, R. and T. Allen. 2007. The 2006 economic benefits of hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching in Texas. Southwick Associates, Inc., Florida, USA.
- United States North American Bird Conservation Initiative Committee (US NABCI Committee). 2000. North American Bird Conservation Initiative: Bird Conservation Regions map. Arlington, Virginia, USA: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.