R.D. Atkinson T.S. Baskett G.H. Haas M. W. Sayre 1978 <p>Results confirmed pairing as the primary factor influencing perch-cooing rates of wild mourning doves (<i>Zenaida macroura</i>). Marked unmated males cooed at substantially higher rates (6.2x) than mated males, had greater probability of cooing (2.3x) during 3-minute periods, and continued cooing longer each morning than mated males. Population density was not a major factor affecting cooing. Unmated males cooed more frequently in the presence of other cooing doves (P &lt; 0.05) than when alone, but the number of additional doves above 1 was unimportant. Cooing rates of both mated and unmated males on areas with dissimilar dove densities were not significantly different. Within limits of standard call-count procedure, weather exerted no detectable influence on cooing.</p> application/pdf 10.2307/3800778 en Wiley Reappraising factors affecting mourning dove perch coos article