I already knew, and maybe you did too, that mourning doves will sometimes hang around our cold, snowy Northeast winters rather than migrate, if there is food—that is, if we keep our birdfeeders stocked. My thoughts turned to this as I watched from the window as a pair of them scooped up some spillage off the ground below one of our backyard feeders. They’re still here, and I resolved to help them stay around, to keep it full. Though most people think their cooing call sounds sad, I actually find the sound of it somehow comforting.
Here are some things that I didn’t know about these very familiar birds, which may enhance your appreciation of them, too.
Mourning doves have fairly neutral coloration that allows them to blend in almost anywhere. Photo by Roland Jordahl/Birds & Blooms.
1- When they grab seeds off the ground, they are not necessarily eating them. Instead, they are stockpiling for digesting later. The seeds collect in the “crop,” which is simply an enlarged part of their esophagus.
2- They are primarily seed-eaters, not insect-eaters. They can and do eat weed seeds, which is certainly valuable to gardeners as well as farmers, or anyone living near overgrown vacant lots. (They do like corn, though.)
3- The cooooOOOOO-woo-woo-woo call is almost always uttered by the male bird, not the female, and is—wait for it—a wooing call, an enticement to a mate or potential mate.
4- When they sleep, their head rests between their shoulders, close to the body (they do not tuck their little heads under their shoulder feathers, like a lot of other birds do).
5- Their long, pointed wings are almost falcon-like in appearance, while their pointed tails are longer than those of any other doves. These “design features” enable the birds to fly fast. Mourning doves have been clocked at 55 mph!
6- When they lay eggs, it is almost always just two. (Singletons are rare, as are bigger clutches.) Incubation takes just two weeks.
7- Males and females work together to feed their new babies something called “crop milk” or “pigeon milk” for the first few days of their life. Rich in protein and fat, it resembles cottage cheese, is secreted by the adults’ crop lining, and is regurgitated to the little ones. Weaning is fast, though—by the fourth day of life, the diet starts to segue to seeds, and by two weeks, the youngsters are nearly fledged.
8- Mourning doves are considered closely related to the late, lamented passenger pigeons.
9- These doves are still hunted in many areas. However, I haven’t read any concerns about population decline.
10- Pairs tend to mate for life. Another name for them is “turtle doves.” So, small wonder that the author of the favorite Christmas song kept them as a pair. (Besides, “a mourning dove in a pear tree” just doesn’t sound right!)
For more, check out this overview article from the excellent Birds & Blooms library.
Deborah says
Hi Teri,
I certainly DID appreciate your 10 surprising facts about Mourning Doves. They are always welcome in my yard.-and
knowing more about them, makes their visits, that more special. THANKS!!
Thomas Malan says
The notion that Mourning Does mate for life is just a fralasy. We have raised displaced baby Mourning Doves from their birth and have raised many of their offspring. They have given us great pleasure and unconditional love. We have personally witnessed the changing of mates among the ones we have raised. Supposedly they are also known to have two birthings during the year, but that too is misinformation as the two pairs we have are quite active on a bi-monthly basis dropping a continuum of eggs every month. Hope to have set the record straight on this subject.–Tom M
Bea says
I certainly know raising some myself – they are different than in the wild!
Original article is correct.
Jeff says
I really love to hear and see all birds but this dove is my favorite every time I hear there call no matter how busy I may be I stop and listen
Joseph Bucci says
I live in the city there is one dive in our neighborhood why he’s here who knows but he’s alone coos every morning and it’s kind of sad I wonder if this bird will ever find a mate makes me sad but I keep hoping
Bill Plummer says
If you, like me, don’t like mourning doves just be certain the seed you put out for the birds totally lacks cracked corn. Cracked corn is a major ingredient in most bird food mixes because it is a cheap filler and people think it will attract wild turkeys.
CourtSport says
I love morning doves and love the facts about them. We have tons of them nesting around are farm house! Yes they love corn, hince we live in Nebraska! How can you not love morning doves? There sound is so calming compared to others wild birds.
Evelyn Ball says
Agree they are a beautiful bird but some people are blind.
Jill Clark says
I have had a hand raised mourning dove for many yrs! We love her! Her name is “Dilly Bar Dove” and yep, our daughter named her (all our pets are named after candy or ice cream hence the name “Dilly Bar”!) Inlove to hear her coo and (what sounds like a) “laugh”! Sweetest birds ever too btw, so gentle! She randomly lays an egg a few times a yr, although it will never hatch, she takes wonderful care of it. She is all white with the ring around her neck. Such awesome birds! Thank you for the article, learned a lot!
Anne says
Where do doves sleep at night ? What about prearors?
Kim S says
Jill, I need your help, I have an injured dove who fell out of its nest and the nest is torn up with the winds we’ve been having. I tried to keep it in a box nest by its parents, but it’s looking more and more sickly and fiels are bugging it now. What should I do? I’ve already taken it to the nearest wildlife center and they rejected it because of its species
Karen says
I enjoyed your article about the mourning doves. They are one of my favorites. They are around my feeders all winter – some go up in the feeders and some prefer to eat off of the ground. It disturbs me that from time to time I’ve seen feathers on the ground and I know that one of my doves has been taken either by a hawk or neighborhood cat. But, that is the down side of nature.
Sidney says
Hi Terri,
I enjoyed your comments about mourning doves, I enjoy their presence year round, may I share an encounter I had the opportunity to have last summer (2010).
Early one morning I noticed an adult dove sitting in the front lawn, thinking maybe it was wounded, I approached it, within 5 foot, wheather the bird was male or female, I don’t know, on closer investigation, I discovered a baby hidden under the adult’s wing, it had probably fallen out of the nest or most likely attempted its maiden flight and fallen to the ground.
I got my camera and took many pictures at different angles, as close as 2 feet away. When I finished photographing the scene, I placed the baby on a low branch of a willow tree, the parent continued to feed the baby for 4 days on the branch, meanwhile, the baby moved higher each day, on the fifth morning it had flown away
John says
Yeah too bad I love these creatures
John says
Yeah too bad I love these creatures sometimes in winter
They stay if your feeders are still their in stock
Once I found one in a bush and a year later they were
Gone they are back now I named one doe
Lila says
Omg, this is the cutest story. I’m so glad they had a happy ending.
Jean says
I too have always loved the mourning doves call remembering that from my young days at my grandmother and grandfathers home in South Dakota along the canyon that became the Lewis and Clark lake. Here in Colorado we have the mourning dove with a black ring around the neck and the first time I heard this morning dove I thought it had something strangling it around its neck. It is not a pretty calm like my childhood. I miss that. I finally looked it up and found it is a Eurasian mourning dove brought over from the east. It is sad to have a six something call that just kind of drops off with no coo coo coo at the end.
jess bradshaw says
It is so sad that terrible people like bill plummer even exist. I feel not only contempt, but pity for people like him, empty and cold, most likely a hunter and killer of birds. I have so many heartwarming and also heartbreaking stories about these lovely doves, there is not enough room here to share it all. Suffice it to say, that these loving birds are extremely loyal to their mates as well as their babies.
I recently had to stop my car to pick up a dead dove who had apparently been hit by a car, to put her on the “island” of pine trees that runs down the middle of our street, so that her mate would be able to sit by her side to “mourn” her safely, and not out in the road where he had been staying next to her side risking being killed himself.
John says
Yeah too bad I love these creatures sometimes in winter
They stay if your feeders are still their in stock
Once I found one in a bush and a year later they were
Gone they are back now I named one doe mane yu could name one
Something like I don’t know .
What’s your phone number?
celena z says
thank you for you insight to their behaviour of loyalty – I now understand more why they are called mourning doves. I had one in my backyard that mourning for days for a mate that got killed somehow. It was so sas.
dawn nelson says
John, that was a heartwarming story and I am sure that dove appreciated your kindness. I to love those birds. I don’t see them very often
Benjamin Rudolph says
Wow…that was rude, Jess. Bill was just saying that he didn’t like them. That seems very judgmental to assume he kills them. I tolerate them because they are cute (not too noble…) but I don’t care for how messy they are. He offered a practical non-violent solution to *not attract* them, not to destroy them, as if he had said, “inject Red Lye into their corn seed”.
Tracey Devine says
What a sad story. But you can feel good that there are people like yourself that care about them. I used to not think much about them one way or the other. I would never hurt one though. Then one day I found an abandoned baby. I waited 24 hrs & his parents weren’t around, so I hand fed him. It has been 8 yrs & I still have him. He’said such a sweet innocent soul.
John says
Aww so cute they Are cool they are all over America I really want to protect these creatures
Call me back bye
John says
Hey wat your phone number
John says
Aloh com e stas
John says
Hbcudhggdggryggd xgdvhdb DVD f
John says
My dad said one time a hawk was flying for food
And it swooped down and it almost caught
One but my dad shot it with a pelet Gun
Pahpillion says
Hawks have to eat too – they are birds of pray and doves are some of their most common pray.
GD says
It’s against the law to harm or antagonize hawks or any bird of prey. I feed my local dove in my area and can’t and wouldn’t do anything to the hawks. When they catch a dove, I just tell myself “that’s nature” but I do place the seed under some shrubs so the dove can eat safely under them.
Christina says
hello Teri,
i just want to ask you a question.. do you have any idea why dove always sit in the same spot every morning and evening facing to our house… dove sitting on the electric wire sitting facing to our house… what does it tell us ?? please let me know thanks
gg says
Question: What might it mean when a dove lands on a human’s head and stays for about 15 seconds? This happened to my son living in Mississippi. Interesting, huh?
Karen says
We have a mourning dove in our yard. Every year it has a nest in our porch light. This spring it started flying really low and landing in mine and my daughters head. It scares the crap out of us because it just comes out of nowhere! I would like to know what it means also. We are getting to be afraid to go out of our house now.
Paul Kemprecos says
Help A pair of mourning doves has built a nest in the garage mechanism of our house in Arizona. The opener chain runs right through the nest. We have coped with this by shooing the dove off the nest whenever we have wanted to open or close the door. We are leaving for a few days for our home in New England and will have rental tenants in after us. We’ll probably leave a note describing the dove shooing procedure, but are a little worried what might happen if the eggs hatch and the young ones are close to the chain. Any suggestions?
Meryl Burke says
I see your post was 2013 but yes you should move the entire nest to a different location and if its obvious they’ll just move with it. They’re pretty flexible like that.
Sunny says
Paul, is it possible to move the nest to a nearby location? Maybe a shelf near the garage or a nearby tree branch?
Joan Johnson says
We have a baby in our palm tree. He is getting bigger by the day! We have not seen any adult doves around for a few days and are a little concerned. He does seem to be doing okay. Do they adults leave them after a few days.
thanks
Joan
Judy C. says
We are SO excited that mourning doves have built a nest right outside our dining room window, If we opened it, we could easlily touch the nest. It is exciting waiting for the babies to hatch! My husband thinks I’ll never let him reomove the tree now, which was our plan before nature arrived—
kamal says
a dove is incubating near our home,i wish to feed them, what should i offer and how.
pl suggest.
Bella says
RICE , I NOW HAVE 16 DOVE WHO LANDED ON MY MANHATTAN WINDOW FLOWER BUSH , FIRST LAYED ONE EGG , SECOND EGG DAYS LATER , WATCHED THEM GROW TOO FAST , THEY FLEW AWAY , BUT NOTICED THEY COME BACK TO THE SAME FLOWER BUSH , STAY FEW MINUTES LIKE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING AND FLY AGAIN,I START PUTTING RICE AND WATER FOR IT WAS TOO HOT ..SOON THE PARENT JOIN , FOLLOWED BY OTHER VERY YOUNG ..NOW TOTAL 16 DOVES , EATING 15 POUNDS OF RICE EVERY WEEK .
FEEL SORRY FOR THEM THAT THEY ARE STAYING UNDER SNOW JUST BECAUSE I FEED THEM , may be should stop so they can go to a warmer climate , but to where ??? Manhattan is so far from any warm climate !!!
Helen Savage says
We are confused and worried. A mourning dove has nested under the eaves of our front porch, and has been there for at least a month. She just stays on the nest most of the time. We thought we saw one baby bird, but it doesn’t seem to be there any more. Anyone have any comments?
Merilyn Wiedefeld says
Yes, the adults leave too soon, in my estimation. Almost sad! They seem so pre-occupied with rebuilding the nest, and “starting” their next family. This morning, our newest little baby was aimlessly walking around under the nest(the nest is up high on a ledge of our deck), when either the mother or father (hard to tell), swooped down on the baby, pecked it, and several feather went flying. The baby took off and haven’t seen him since. I do think this is the way they teach the babies to fly, although seemed sad to me.
Carrie says
I found these 2 Doves pitched on the ledge of our back porch. Not knowing what they were (I thought they were pigeons), I post them on Facebook. I was told they were Mourning Doves. The 2 doves made a nest in a box I had planted veggies in last year. They nested until they had their babies and I haven’t seen them since. I feel blessed they chose our house. I’ve heard it is a symbol of peace and know they’re mentioned many times in the bible regarding peace. Yay for us. The only species I won’t try to get out of our yard.
hello says
Awesome
Amanda_S55 says
Hey!
I was wondering something. Why are the Mourning Doves *so* fat? Whenever I see one on my feeders, they’re always plump. Maybe because they eat almost ALL of the seeds in the tube feeder? I don’t know.
Thanks;)
Benjamin Rudolph says
In the winter, they fluff up for warmth (not that I know the physics/science of it). But that is what I know. Bluebirds tend to look really fat, too 🙂
Eleanor bart says
Your article was very informative.
Question for you. We had doves nesting in. One of our trees. At first I saw the male and female . Then there appeared to be only one bird. Then the bird abandoned the nest with two eggs. I thought perhaps one of them was killed and so the other one abandoned the nest. Is this possible?
mark says
I have been having doves nesting in my geranium hanging planters for 3yrs .now. I believe they are the same pair every yr. They nest right outside my patio doors. I have 3 planters, this yr. they they laid 1egg, nestled it for 4 days, and now they have moved to another planter, and appear to be starting all over. The 1 egg has just seemed to have been a banded. What’s with that?
joannwilkie says
Guessing that they know that egg is not going to hatch, somehow.
Teresa says
I have a pair in one of my conifers right now. They built their nest pretty low and my dogs were going crazy. I got my husband to figure out a way to keep the dogs away from them, but I’m now concerned that the babies might hop or fly too far away from the tree where the dogs can get to them. It’s so amazing how vigilant they are, even with all that barking, the lawn mower and the passing storms. Beautiful birds!
It’s a Partridge in the pear tree…
Benjamin Rudolph says
I am surprised it took three years for someone to comment about the partridge, LOL.
MARY says
I live in New Mexico, and we have many pine trees on our property. Morning Doves are very smart! They tap on my window, when the feeder is empty! 🙂 They love music, especially soft sounds. I put the music on and they sit on a branch and stare at me lololol. I just love them 🙂
Celeste says
This is the cutest comment I love it! This just made me laugh. I love the mourning doves outside my windows and had to learn more about them. I love that you said they tap on your window when the feeder is empty LOL The birds sound so pretty I just adore them.
Bill says
I live in San Marcos Ca, and we have had 3 pairs of new babies. They have nested in our Christmas catus away from prying eyes of predators and seem to be safe a they are fun to watch as mom feeds her baby. It’s so sweet.
I really love nature and all that it has for us to watch and learn.
Pahpillion says
Hi Teri,
I have a bird sanctuary where many birds live in harmony; sparrows, at least three types of doves and some grackles. Also, there is a pair of mockingbirds that have been bringing their young to feed at the sanctuary for about 4 years now. This year they had triplets. The strange thing is that when the triplets left their nest (from across the street), they came to a tree in my back yard where a mourning dove was incubating. About a week later the moker chicks seem to have taken over the dove’s nest. The dove apparently abandoned the nest; or did it?
helensavage says
enjoyed your comments doves had 1 or babies and a week old they were gone wondered if a hawk got them now in the same planter they are back for 3 days and I guess are going to use it again it is right outside our open livingroom window where tv is on etc.and doesent seem to deter them
Faith says
I love this blog post and found it extremely helpful for my current research on the Mourning dove.
BILL says
I have been feeding them for years from my feeder and every winter they stay here in the freezing cold and snow of Upper Mi. I see hawks swoop down on them near my feeder every summer resulting in a pile of feathers but Hawks have to eat too.I enjoy seeing the males drive the females crazy with their advances in spring because then I know summer is near.they are a game bird in many states but you need alot of them to make a decent meal.
Monica says
I just got to witness the pecking part of the doves mating. I came out on my porch with my coffee and two doves were sitting nearby preening and pecking. Then they moved several inches away from each other and preened themselves. I was sad when they flew off…..very interesting and sweet. At our last house we had “love doves” for many uears and I enjoyed seeing them around. We named them Lucy and Ricky 🙂
Emily says
I always thought it was “Morning” dove. Nonetheless, I love the sound they make. It is gentle and calming. Glad to know they like corn. I’ll have to get some.
Linda says
In the bible the fife is a symbol of” restoring joy”.
Sounds like comfort to me too!li
Scott says
Did you know that mourning doves are one of the few, perhaps only birds to drink water as humans do, by “suckling”?
Donna says
Love the facts about the Morning Doves. I love their cooing. I hear them near our house but have never had them feeding from the scattered seeds from the other birds. Only thing it is two turtle doves and a Partridge in a pear tree.
adrienne says
Okay, I must be the only person on this planet who cannot stand them. I live in a senior citizen complex, these birds poop all over the roofs of the houses and it’s hard to walk in a straight line without standing on loads of white splatter. I’ll tell these birds to go live in your neighborhood.
GD says
Sounds like Adrienne is mistaking pigeons for dove. The only dove poop I’ve ever seen was not all white and splattered, but clumped and only where they have landed.
Papa says
I never cared for doves because they remind me of filthy pigeons. I understand though that they are good eatin!
f Moses Stirewalt says
Is it true that immediately after the first eggs hatch, that two additional eggs are laid in the nest so the body heat of the baby birds incumate them while tha adult gather food. In this way they can produce many batches, close together
Stephen says
We have a flock of several Mourning Doves here in Appalachia. I put down corn twice a day, every day, rain or shine. During the winter I clear places in the snow with my snow shovel. I put it out In the morning for the birds and squirrels and at night for the deer. The vendor where I buy my corn suggested I try scratch, which is their chicken feed. I now scatter a large container of scratch every third day and the Mourning Doves love it as well as the smaller birds.
Angelia says
Stephen is a good guy 🙂
Linda Hemenway says
I have always loved Mourning Doves! It is very relaxing to watch them feeding & sometimes just laying & relaxing in the grass! They don’t seem to mind the other birds around them at all! I have many more this year than in other years! I live in North Central Ohio.
Pat Nielsen says
One day I witnessed a most surprising happening with a male and female dove in my yard. They were eating seed off the ground but their one offspring who was with them was not. It was yelping like crazy, they both ignored it however a little wren (I think it was that) picked up some seed and started feeding it to the baby! Afterward, it yelped again and the same little bird kept feeding it! This happened over and over! Has anyone else seen such a thing with another species helping out?
Kathy says
By the way, it’s 2 Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear tree.
a says
Oh yes morning doves are fine but when they started taking over my birds feeders a few years back instead of just ground feeding I built new feeders that didn’t allow them access . Bird seed lasts much longer now and I have the smaller birds I also enjoy.
a says
So a bird flew into a window it does happen and doesn’t usually mean a thing. Have your mom’s funeral and then get on with your life.
Benjamin Rudolph says
It is quite amazing to learn about the storing/not eating behavior. I wish I could do that with chocolates and muffins…
Chris says
A baby dove must have fallen from its nest and tried hard to fly up but now sitting on the ground.. Should we put it back its nests
phebe says
Nice birds. My own life with mourning dove. please check this link “http://www.thepetsworld.com/mourning-dove/”
Chuck says
I normal have at least 3 set of nest every year. Last year and again this year they have nested but no chicks. They abandon their eggs and after about 2 weeks I’ll throw them away. Why do you think I’m having this problem. I keep food and fresh water out for the all year.
Rosa West says
We have a white dove that shows up at our feeder almost weekly. It is beautiful. Where is she or he coming from ?
Peter j Townsend says
A pair of Mournful Doves in my garden to-day, Near Harrow, UK 13th Oct 2016
Donna says
I have had morning doves for the last six years, year round. This year they are gone. I haven’t seen any for two weeks. I usually have ten to twelve. I live in WI. My sister who lives fifteen minutes away said the same thing. I wonder if we are in for a bad winter.
sue says
In Murrieta, CA watching a pair of doves build a nest in a wall hanging on my patio. So awesome to watch nature at work.
Sharon says
I live in southwestern Wa, not uncommon to see 50-60 in my yard daily. About 3 weeks ago I noticed I had a white one, very hard to get a good pic of it, beautiful bird.
Christina says
Thank you so much for this!! I live in central Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. A pair of these lovelies recently moved into the lemon tree just outside my dining room window. It’s been fascinating watching them build up their nest and take turns foraging for sticks and debris. I’m assuming they are preparing for a clutch and I can’t wait to see it! So happy they feel safe and content in my yard! They bring so much peace to my home.
nannie says
I have doves that have built a nest next to my house on a fence post no cover at all not even a branch should i put some cover?
Pa says
I cal. My morning dove a rain dove because before it rains it will always hollar
Theresa says
I Love my doves. Sometimes I have 3 other times I have 6. I was wondering if the females hang together and the males. I always thought they stay in pairs. Also, a fun fact, it is a partridge in a pear tree. Not two turtle doves. Lol.
Rosemary says
Just the other day, there were two in my yard. (I live in Labrador section of Nfld and Labrador Canada) I suspect they were here all winter. Today is March 23, 2017.
Roger says
Is that right the female sit on the Ness fasting the tree &and the male awayfassing
Cosmos says
Turtle Doves are found in South Africa and is a total different species, not Mourning Doves.
Ann Kinderman says
Loved the article. We have several batches of little ones every year and find it so beautiful. I do have a question. How can you tell the male from the female? I did read that the male coo’s but when they are not in the nest I can’t tell “who is who”.
Wayne Miller says
In lower Alabama, we have backyard feeders. We have several pairs of Mourning Doves and several pair of Pygmy Doves visiting our feeder area. The strangest thing, They almost always arrive at the feeder by walking in. They will come from all corners of the yard, walking. Rarely do you see one fly in. And, they usually walk in, in pairs. Both mates, single file.
Wayne Miller says
In lower Alabama, we have backyard feeders. We have several pairs of Mourning Doves and several pair of Pygmy Doves visiting our feeder area. The strangest thing, They almost always arrive at the feeder by walking in. They will come from all corners of the yard, walking. Rarely do you see one fly in. And, they usually walk in, in pairs. Both mates, single file.
George Ashikian says
Coooookooooooo cooo early mornings in my back yard is annoying so I plug my ears. Yes indeed those fellows are horny for a female friend and as he flies looking for one makes that almost human sound that “ready or not here I come, gonna find a way” hahahahaha. ..go charming fella !
Michael Bateman says
Great article. My 11th would be, if I may, that after they leave the nest, mom and dad continue to feed them, showing them where to forrage and helping them as well. Something I was quick to tell my mom!!
Andree Dubreuil says
i, LOVE BIRDS. AND HAVE IN SO MANY YEARS.. LEARNED TO PUT THEM TO SLEEP.. IT, IS SIMPLY.. LIKE.. KNOWING..
tHE CLOSING OF EYES. SPELLS.. SLEEP.. AND IF ALL OF YOU ANIMAL LOVERS KNOW.. JUST. CLOSE YOUR EYES. LET YOUR ANIMAL KNOW.. THAT SLEEP. IS WHAT YOU WANT. SLEEP. THE CLOSING OF YOUR EYES. SHOWS. THAT YOU ARE NOT A PREY.. AND THAT.. YOU ARE INDEED FRIENDLY.. SIMPLY SHOW.. THIS ATTITUDE.. AND LET YOUT PET.. FOLLOW.THEN.. ALL WILL BE CALM..
i, ACTUALLY ENYOY THE FACT THAT MY BLINKS. SHOW TO MY DOVES.. THAT ALL IS WELL AND THAT.. THEY CAN SAFELY GO TO SLEEP. ANIMALS.. KNOW BLINKS.. AND STARES. AND IF YOU WANT. TO SHARE.. A LOVING SILENT,, SIMPLY SHOW IT.. AND BLINK THE SLOW..BLINK..A TENDER. ONE.. A SLEEPY.. BLINK. A SLOW.. SLOW. SLOW.
Andree Dubreuil says
MOURNING DOVES.. COMMUNICATE CLOSELY.. AND EYE CONTACT WITHIN
IS OF ANYTHING. IMPORTANT.. SINCE THEY ARE GROUND FORAGING BIRDS.. THIS. EYE CONTACT. IS A VALUE..
STUDY.. THE EYE CONTACT AND FREQUENCIES.. YOU WILL NOTICE THE VALUE. OF IT..
Joan Hamilton says
I feed the doves all winter long, so have a lot of them. Feed them cracked corn. They never get in the feeders. I thought that they mated for life too, but was sitting watching them on my deck railing, a female, one male, mated with her and then another. Was she a bad girl? I has one that would sit looking in the patio door with my bird on the inside, they would be nose to nose.
Patrick J Ward says
I have a pair on my back porch that built a nest in an old tarp that I have there. They just had 2 babies and after the babies left the pair was back in the nest within 2 weeks laying eggs again. I read where they will lay and have babies up 3-4 times a year. Another interesting fact is that a dove egg can’t get wet. They do not have the protective liner inside it like a chicken eggs does. I would guess that why my 2 decided to make their nest on my back porch out of the weather. The other facts I saw in this article or are spot on.
steve says
my parents live in Arizona. Last year, a dove made a nest in a small tree just outside their kitchen window. The pair of doves had their babies. This year another nest was built in the exact spot. I think my mom said there were two eggs but I’m not sure. Anyways, the other day both my parents witness one of the doves picked up one of the eggs with its beak and fly away with it. They said it looked like the egg was larger than the others. Does this make sense that a morning dove would remove an egg and carry it away?