Dove Data Population 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 300,000 hunters take the field in Texas annually, resulting in a yearly economic impact of $316 million ($514 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 2025. 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 (2008-24), and rural and urban abundance estimates by BCR for mourning and white-winged doves in Texas.
Morning 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 2008-25, statewide abundance ranged from a low of 19.8 million in 2022 to a high of 37.5 million in 2016. The 2025 statewide estimate of 35.9 million is a 5% increase from 2024 and 28% above the long-term average (Figure 2). An estimated 90% of mourning doves observed occurred in rural areas compared to urban areas (10%) in 2025 (Figure 3), and, on average, densities in urban areas were 1.8 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 (11%), and Central Mixed Grass Prairie (10%) (Figure 4). In 2025, abundance estimates in both the Central Mixed Grass Prairie and the Tamaulipan Brushlands BCRs were regional record highs, increasing 24% and 16% from 2024, respectively. Abundance in the Shortgrass Prairie BCR increased 16%. The Oaks and Prairies BCR saw a slight 3% decline from 2024 but is still the 3rd highest estimate on record. Abundance estimates in all BCRs were well above long-term averages this year (range: 3-90%), except for the Pineywoods (-16%) and the Chihuahuan Desert (-30%) (see Status-Regional section below).
Figure 2. Combined rural and urban breeding abundance of mourning doves. The long-term average (2008-24), represented by the orange line, is 28.0 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 2024 and 2025.
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 2008-25, estimated statewide abundance ranged from a low of 6.7 million in 2008 to a high of 12.8 million in 2024. The statewide abundance estimate of 11.7 million for 2025 is an 8% decrease from 2024 and 15% above the long-term average (Figure 5). An estimated 84% of white-winged doves observed occurred in urban areas compared to rural areas (16%) (Figure 6), and, on average, densities in urban areas were 86 times greater than in rural areas in 2025.
On average, nearly 80% of the state's white-winged doves are found in the Oaks and Prairies (34%), Tamaulipan Brushlands (22%), Gulf Coast Prairie (12%), and Edwards Plateau (11%) BCRs each year (Figure 7). In 2025, white-winged dove abundance increased in the Tamaulipan Brushlands 41%, reaching a new regional high, and decreased in the Gulf Coast Prairie (-55%), Edwards Plateau (-45%), and Oaks and Prairies (-2%) BCRs (see Status-Regional section below).
Figure 5. Combined rural and urban breeding abundance of white-winged doves. The long-term average (2008-24), represented by the orange line, is 10.2 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 (2008-24) and 2025.
Status Regional
by Ecoregion
This section highlights regional trends in annual abundance (2025 N), year-over-year percent change from 2024 to 2025 (% change YOY), and percent difference between the 2025 estimate and 2008 to 2024 long-term average (% change LTA).
Bird Conservation Region - Shortgrass Prairie 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 11,785,945, which is a 16% increase from the year prior and 44% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 898,568, which is a 38% decrease from the year prior and 7% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 11,785,946 | 16% | 44% |
| White-winged Dove | 898,568 | -39% | 7% |
Bird Conservation Region - Central Mixed Grass Prairie 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 4,308,449, which is a 24% increase from the year prior and 59% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 739,960, which is a 2% decrease from the year prior and 32% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 4,308,449 | 24% | 59% |
| White-winged Dove | 739,960 | -2% | 32% |
Bird Conservation Region - Edwards Plateau 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 1,511,006, which is a 1% decrease from the year prior and 3% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 709,819, which is a 45% decrease from the year prior and 35% below the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 1,511,006 | -1% | 3% |
| White-winged Dove | 709,819 | -45% | -35% |
Bird Conservation Region - Oaks and Prairies 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 8,728,634, which is a 3% decrease from the year prior and 29% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 3,656,115, which is a 3% decrease from the year prior and 11% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 8,728,634 | -3% | 29% |
| White-winged Dove | 3,656,115 | -3% | 11% |
Bird Conservation Region - Pineywoods 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 1,440,072, which is an 8% increase from the year prior and 8% below the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 208,321, which is a 10% decrease from the year prior and 58% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 1,440,072 | +8% | -8% |
| White-winged Dove | 208,321 | -10% | 58% |
Bird Conservation Region - Chihuahuan Desert 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 1,440,072, which is an 8% increase from the year prior and 8% below the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 208,321, which is a 10% decrease from the year prior and 58% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 973,345 | -57% | -30% |
| White-winged Dove | 643,469 | -27% | 47% |
Bird Conservation Region - Tamaulipan Brushlands 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 5,751,902, which is a 16% increase from the year prior and 90% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 3,772,491, which is a 41% increase from the year prior and 75% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 5,751,902 | 16% | 90% |
| White-winged Dove | 3,772,491 | 41% | 75% |
Bird Conservation Region - Gulf Coast Prairie 
The 2025 population estimate for mourning doves in this region is 1,438,277, which is a 2% decrease from the year prior and 20% above the long-term average (2008-2024).
The 2025 population estimate for white-winged doves in this region is 769,531, which is a 55% decrease from the year prior and 33% below the long-term average (2008-2024).
| Dove | 2025 Population Estimate | Percent Change Year-over-year | Percent Change Long-term-average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 1,438,277 | -2% | 20% |
| White-winged Dove | 769,531 | -55% | -33% |
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.