Ground dove vs Mourning Doves

[outdoordave]

Does anyone have a quick tip or advice on identifying Mourning doves from ground doves. I hunt Southwest Riverside county and East County SD for dove but without the large flocks of birds I've been pretty trigger shy not wanting to shoot a ground dove by accident. I know mourning doves hang out on the ground during the hotter parts of the day so if anyone can help ID the birds after takeoff I would appreciate it. Thanks

 

[Lungpopper]

The ground doves are smaller. Once they are in the air you will notice the tail feathers are much shorter and wings are more compact.

 

[outdoordave]

Thanks Lungpopper!

 

[Snake Charmer]

LP is right, the other give away is that they fly just a few feet off the ground everywhere they go.

 

[outdoordave]

Thanks snake charmer. Ill have to keep that in mind. Glad I didn't pull the trigger on a few last year than. They were probably ground doves. Better safe than sorry!

 

[SoCalHunter]

Ground dove are a lot smaller and you should have no problem with identification.

 

[D16hunter]

Mourning doves are bigger and taste great