Is It Safe to Feed Doves While Nesting
Mourning Doves Habits
The Mourning Doves Coo may sound sad, but bird watchers know that it signals the beginning of this bird's habits of nesting, claiming territory, and raising young.
The sound Doves make is the reason they are called Mourning Doves. It always amazes me where a bird may decide to build a nest and these birds are no exception.
As you can see, this one is in a hanging plant and further down old Robin nest on top of the security lights at the back of this house. Two healthy squabs were raised from this nest site.
Dove Pair in Flower Planter
Mourning Dove Call Sound
Press the button to listen to the Dove coo sound
Description
Slimmer than pigeons and about 12 inches in length. Mourning Doves have a soft gray-brown body and a gray patch on the head.
Black dots on their wings and a single black spot behind and below the eyes.
When perching you'll notice a long tapered tail. In flight you'll see that the tail has a white-edged band.
Feeding Habits - What Do Mourning Doves Eat
Found in Canada and all of the lower 48 states, down to Mexico. Also common in most types of habitats excluding heavily forested or wetland areas.
Doves are common at bird feeders and will eat seeds. Try placing bird seed on a Feeder Doves Love like the one pictured above. It's important to keep the seed off the ground.
| Mourning Dove | Quick Stats |
|---|---|
| Eggs | 2 |
| Incubation | 14 - 15 days |
| Nestling Phase | 12 - 14 days |
| Broods | 2 - 3 |
White millet, Safflower, and cracked corn are the most common seeds that Mourning Doves eat. Try offering Dove Safflower seed and you'll also get Northern Cardinals eating at your feeders along with Doves.
For more information on seeds and photos of each, please see our Bird Seed Page.
Basic Habitat
Mourning Doves prefer open land with a scattering of trees and shrubs for cover and nesting. Mourning Doves sleep in dense evergreens and cover that protects them from weather and predators during winter.
Doves are one of the most widespread and adaptable North American birds. The best garden habitat includes an open lawn, herbaceous borders, and flower beds, with scattered patches of trees and shrubs.
Include a source of water close to the ground (in winter, see: heated bird baths) in addition to providing bird seed and you should be able to attract these birds all year.
Nesting Habits Mourning Dove Nest Behaviors
Beginning as early as March, Mourning Doves nest and begin building their nest, which is a loose nest of twigs, grass, weeds, and pine needles. Taking 2 - 4 days to complete.
I stress loose because their nest can be so lightly put together that often you can see through it from the bottom.
Many folks wonder if they should help the birds out. For the most part I suggest leaving it alone, but I'm not there looking at it like you are.
If startled they may fly off the nest too quickly and the eggs could fall from the nest. Birdwatchers would be wise to wait until the eggs have hatched before approaching any nest.
Nest abandonment is very common with Doves. If they feel any threat from predators whether human or animal, they may go elsewhere to nest, abandoning both eggs and nestlings. Bird watchers need to exercise caution.
Dove Eggs in Nest
Dove Eggs in Nest
The Mourning Dove nest can be found 5-25 feet above the ground, often in the crotch of a shrub or tree. Laying 2 white eggs that are incubated for 14-15 days.
When Do Baby Doves Leave The Nest?
When the baby doves hatch the adults will brood them continually for 4 to 5 days. You may not know that the eggs have hatched during this time.
By day 6 or 7 if the weather cooperates, the adults will begin to leave them alone. Sometimes for long periods.
Night brooding is stopped by day 9 or 10 and the young will leave the nest by day 12-14.
They have been known to reuse the same nest for five sets of eggs in a single season. Usually, 2 - 3 broods are raised each season.
The peak of the breeding season is April - July although they may breed as late as October in some areas.
Pairs stay together (monogamous) through the season and some may pair up in following seasons.
You can try attracting them to nest near you by placing a Dove Nesting Shelf attached to a tree or your house. Another trick I've tried was to use a hanging plant container.
I fill the container with soil and top it off with some White Pine needles. White Pines have very soft needles unlike, many other types of pine trees.
I place the hanging container under a porch or the roof of my garden gate. If placed on your deck or porch, make sure you hang it close to the outside of the deck or porch.
Two Squabs (baby doves)
Mourning Doves, along with Pigeons, produce a food called pigeon milk (not really milk) by glands in the crop of the adult bird.
The parent opens its mouth wide, permitting the nestling to stick its head inside to feed on the nutritious food.
In a few days the "milk" feeding subsides and the adults will begin feeding the young squabs regurgitated seeds. Adults will keep feeding the young for about a month after hatching.
The adults will teach and help the young for a short time after the young leave the nest.
In the wild, the adult birds feed primarily on field waste grain. These include corn, wheat, grass, and weed seeds.
You can attract these birds to your feeder by supplying white and red proso millet, oil-type sunflower seeds, and cracked corn.
Important Nesting Information
Often emails from bird watchers arrive asking "Our dove has not left the nest in days, will she starve or die of thirst? What should we do?"
Unlike most birds, these birds tend to incubate their eggs continually. Since the male and female look alike, it appears the same bird is incubating the eggs the whole time.
Actually, the male does a daytime shift and the female does the night shift. If you are not around during the change, it appears the same bird has been on the nest the whole time.
Not to worry, the switch was made while you were not looking.
Do Doves Mate for Life? What Happens When One Dies?
Mated Pair of Doves
People often worry about when one of the birds dies. These birds are perfect prey for cats because they feed mostly on the ground.
Sometimes the surviving bird will attempt to incubate the eggs or continue feeding the nestlings.
This is a difficult task for a single bird and often unsuccessful.
In due course, the surviving dove will find a new mate. Since they nest several times a season, (2 - 3 is normal) it's possible they will raise a successful brood in the same season.
While it's sad to lose these birds in your yard, be comforted knowing they will mate again.
Lifespan of Mourning Doves
According to the Cornell Lab website, (All About Birds), Mourning Doves average lifespan for first-year birds is, 1 - 1.5 years. First-year birds have a mortality rate of 60 - 75 percent and adults have a mortality rate of 50 - 60 percent.
For any songbird the first year of survival is the most difficult. If these birds survive their first year they can live on average 4 - 5 years in the wild.
Predators of Mourning Doves
Birds that will prey on adult Mourning Doves include: Hawks and Falcons. On the ground and in the nest: cats, raccoons, opossums, Grackles, Crows, and snakes will feed on doves.
Due to their ground feeding behavior, they are often caught by Predators.
Moving Dove Nest
I get many emails complaining that doves have nested too close to the door or where dogs are contained. They ask "can I move the doves nest?"
I'm sorry to say that when a nest is moved, most times it is interpreted as a predator attack, which will cause the Doves to abandon the nest.
All I can suggest is to do your best. Use the door if you have to and keep dogs monitored at fledging time.
There are times nest must be removed. This happens when nests are located on movable objects such as automobiles or tractors that have sat for a while.
It's then that I would recommend trying to move the nest but keeping it as close as possible to where the nest was found.
Don't walk the nest 20 feet away and place it in a tree. Use common sense. It may not work out, but you've done what you can.
I am aware of others who have had success. --- That's my 2 cents on this matter. Please don't write and tell me about the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. I'm aware of what it says and am confident in its intent. Thank you.
Many of our visitors have shared some unusual nesting sites that doves have used and how they dealt with things.
Do Doves Migrate or Go South for Winter
Northern populations move south while those in the mid-range are partial migrants and Southern residents stay in their area. In most areas of its range you'll see doves during the winter months.
Birds Need Water in Winter - Learn More
Heated birdbaths can help in their winter survival.
Doves Nesting in Hanging Planter, How or Can I Water?
This is up to you as many of our website visitors have told us they were successful at watering their plants with dove nests in them.
First and foremost don't get water anywhere near the eggs, nest, or squabs. Doves always cover these three things when it rains. The adult takes the brunt of the weather.
If possible, wait until the adult is off the nest. Then, water around the edges of the plant making sure none of the water runs toward the nest.
If the adults are never off the nest then I'll leave it up to you.
Some folks have been able to water successfully by gently approaching the nest and having the adult leave. Giving them time to water.
Be aware that this method might cause the adult to be gone for quite some time waiting to see when it's safe to return.
There is always a chance they'll abandon the nest but it's less likely if there are squabs in the nest.
If the plant is in a semi-shaded area you can decide what you want most, the plant or the dove nest.
An idea for the future is to place a hanging basket just for the doves with plastic foliage lining the outside edge for cover. Be sure to hang this planter in the same or close to where they previously nested.
Be sure to scoll on down for all the stories our visitors have submitted about having Doves
Products for Attracting Doves
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More Topics:
Raising Domestic Doves
Read Stories and See Pics About Baby Birds
Stories and Pics of Nesting in Unusual Places
Pics From Our Visitors
Encourage Nesting - Get a Nesting Shelf
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What Other Visitors Have Said
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The Mourning Dove's Coo
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Extra Dove Fledgling in Nest After Storm
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Rock-a-Bye Doves!
I first thought the sounds I was hearing had to be an Owl. It was moving- in- day. Just kept hearing same sound. Finally, I was told by my boyfriend, …
Doves nesting on an Electric fan for Years.
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Rescued Baby Dove
When I got home from work on my street (in the middle of it) was a baby bird. I saw instantly it was a baby Mourning Dove. The parents as far …
Mourning Doves Bless and Bring Me Joy My Story
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We first noticed this mama M. Dove in a tree in our front yard last year. The tree was diseased and needed to be cut down, we waited until her …
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Several weeks ago, I had occasion to visit a large home on several acres in one of the wealthiest northern California counties. The family kept …
Dove Nest in Shoe Stand
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He Landed On My Head
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Doves Nesting on and In
This is the second time we have had a morning dove sitting to nest on the ground around our front porch. It's been a few years in between, but I …
Hank the -Indoor/Outdoor Mourning Dove
We have acquired a mourning dove, and I must say, he is a breath of fresh air for us! 'Hank' was found outside back in August (2012) on the ground …
I have Doves in a hanging planter too!
I did have a Robin nesting there around late March or early April, but it flew away every time we opened the front door (the plant hanger is to the left …
Doves nesting on patio - Worried about Crows
A few years ago, we had a family of doves and had so much fun watching the progression from building the nest to weening the babies. Our kids were …
Doves & Panasonic Air Conditioner
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My doves in hanging fake plant!
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Doves Nest in Plant Container
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My little Squirt the Dove
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It's Just A Rotten Egg!
Hatching a Mourning Dove Egg On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, my grand daughter, Annastasia, found an egg in the grass in her neighborhood. The …
Doves Nesting on Carport in Garages
A few months ago, I hired a local pest control company to screen in the corner eaves of my house because honestly, birds were becoming a nuisance. …
Ricardo the Wounded Dove
One morning I went out to refill my Goldfinch feeders. I glanced down and realized that I almost stepped on a scrawny, tan bird. I looked …
Finding and Helping Mourning Doves
We moved dove nest to new location successfully We had a storm that took out many trees in town. We were removing what was left of one of ours that …
Baby Birds Born In Hanging Pot Plant
A few weeks ago while cleaning up my back patio and watering some plants, I came across a mourning dove's nest that had appeared inside one of my hanging …
Doves Nesting on House
Two weeks ago we opened our front door and a dove flew out of the flower pot that is on the rail of our front porch. I quickly noticed that it …
Doves Nesting in Hanging Plants
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Broken Nest Rebuilt
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Dove Nest on Patio
Our Patio Dove Nest I recently have had the pleasure (and pain) of having a beautiful pair of mourning doves nesting on the roof overhang of my patio. …
Dove on Fire Escape
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Balcony Doves Nesting
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Getting Doves To Use Hanging Basket
This is the second installment on my Morning Doves along with a picture of the chicks. Late this afternoon I was looking out of the window and …
Doves Nesting On Patios and Decks
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At Home In the Pines
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Baby Mourning Dove
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Doves on Garage Door Pictures
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Baby doves
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Places Doves Choose to Nest
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For the last two years my family and I have had a family of mourning doves nesting in a hanging plant on my front porch. My husband, kids and …
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A little over a year ago we noticed a pair "checking out" a little nook in our patio, on top of a 4X6. Soon they were busy building a nest. It seemed …
Doves in Hanging Plant
Yesterday, I noticed a dove nesting in my hanging plant, which hangs from the eave of my ramada, or outdoor patio. Unfortunately, one of my cats noticed …
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