Mourning doves are a familiar sight across North America, often observed in pairs. Their presence frequently sparks curiosity regarding the longevity and exclusivity of their bonds and mating habits.
Understanding Avian Monogamy
In birds, monogamy typically refers to a social arrangement where a male and female associate exclusively for at least one breeding season. This is known as social monogamy, a common strategy seen in approximately 90% of bird species, where pairs cooperate in raising offspring. However, social monogamy does not always imply genetic monogamy, meaning all offspring are genetically sired by the bonded male. Genetic monogamy is rarer, with studies indicating that extra-pair copulations occur in a large proportion of socially monogamous bird species.
Mourning Dove Courtship and Pairing
Mourning doves exhibit distinct behaviors that solidify their pair bonds during the breeding season. Courtship often begins with the male perched prominently, emitting his characteristic cooing song to attract a female. He also performs aerial displays, flying upwards with noisy wingbeats before gliding in a wide circle with bowed wings. Once a female shows interest, the male approaches her with a puffed-out chest and bowing motions.
Pair bonding rituals include mutual preening and gentle nibbles. A behavior known as “billing” involves the doves grasping each other’s beaks and bobbing their heads in unison. After these displays, the male leads the female to potential nest sites, with the female choosing the location. Nest construction is a cooperative effort, as the male gathers materials like twigs, pine needles, and grass stems, delivering them to the female while standing on her back. The female then weaves these materials into a flimsy, shallow nest.
The Seasonal Nature of Bonds
While mourning doves are socially monogamous and form strong pair bonds, these relationships are generally seasonal rather than lifelong. They remain with the same mate throughout a single breeding season, which can extend from early spring into late summer or even fall. However, if one mate perishes, the surviving dove will seek a new partner.
Pairs may or may not re-mate with the same partner in subsequent breeding seasons. Their average lifespan of one to two years contributes to the prevalence of seasonal bonding. This relatively short lifespan means that seeking a new mate each season, or after the loss of a partner, is a common strategy for reproduction.
Reproductive Success and Pair Bonding
The seasonal pair bonding observed in mourning doves offers distinct advantages for their reproductive success. Both parents share incubation duties, with the male incubating during the day and the female at night. After hatching, both adults produce “crop milk,” a nutritious secretion from their crop lining, to feed their altricial young (squabs). This specialized milk allows for early nesting and rapid initial growth of the young.
As the squabs develop, their diet quickly transitions to seeds provided by both parents. This cooperative parenting, combined with quick nest construction, enables mourning doves to raise multiple broods within a single extended breeding season. A pair can successfully raise between three and six broods in a year. This prolific breeding strategy helps maintain their population despite typically laying only two eggs per clutch and facing high mortality rates.