What Is a Group of Doves Called?
A poetic term with roots in mourning, fitting for a bird whose soft coo has always sounded a little melancholy.
Quick answer: A group of doves is most poetically called a dule of doves (also spelled dole), a term rooted in old French words for grief. You’ll also see bevy and the everyday, generic flock.
What Is a Group of Doves Called?
A group of doves is most poetically called a dule, sometimes spelled dole — an unusually evocative collective noun that leans into the dove’s soft, mournful-sounding call rather than any hunting tradition. Bevy is a common alternate shared with several other bird species, and plain flock works perfectly well in everyday conversation.
Where Does “Dule” Come From?
“Dule” derives from the Old French word deuil, meaning grief or mourning — the same root behind the modern English word “doleful.” The connection makes sense once you’ve heard a mourning dove’s call: a low, repetitive coo that has struck listeners as sorrowful for centuries, inspiring both the bird’s common name and this particularly poetic collective noun. It’s a rare case of a group name capturing a specific emotional impression rather than a physical behavior.
Dove Facts
- Doves belong to the family Columbidae, the same family as pigeons — there’s no strict biological distinction between the two, though “dove” is often used for smaller, more slender species.
- Doves are a near-universal symbol of peace and love across many cultures and religious traditions, appearing in art and literature for millennia.
- Baby doves are called squabs and are fed a nutrient-rich secretion called “crop milk” produced by both parents.
- Doves are known for being strongly monogamous, often pairing with the same mate for multiple breeding seasons.
- The mourning dove, one of the most common species in North America, gets its name directly from its soft, sorrowful-sounding call.
Examples in a Sentence
“A dule of doves settled quietly on the telephone wire as the sun set.”
“A bevy of doves scattered from the garden when the cat approached.”
Other Names for a Group of Doves
Dule (or dole) is the most distinctive, poetic term specific to doves, tied to their mournful-sounding call. Bevy is a shared alternate also used for quail and other small birds. Flock remains the simplest, most widely understood everyday choice.
Test Your Knowledge
1. What is the poetic term for a group of doves?
- Dule
- Murder
- Parliament
- Cast
2. What does “dule” relate to in origin?
- Flight patterns
- Grief or mourning
- Nesting materials
- Feather color
3. What is a baby dove called?
- Chick
- Fledgling only
- Squab
- Peep
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of doves called?
A group of doves is called a dule (also spelled dole). Bevy and flock are also used.
Why is a group of doves called a dule?
Dule comes from the Old French word deuil, meaning grief or mourning, referencing the dove’s soft, mournful-sounding call.
What is the difference between a dove and a pigeon?
There is no strict biological distinction — both belong to the family Columbidae. “Dove” is generally used for smaller, more slender species.
What is a baby dove called?
A baby dove is called a squab, fed a nutrient-rich secretion called crop milk by both parents.
Are doves monogamous?
Yes. Doves are strongly monogamous, often pairing with the same mate across multiple breeding seasons.