When a small bird is found on the ground, a common reaction is concern for an abandoned nest. Doves, particularly the widespread Mourning Dove in North America, often prompt this question because their young leave the nest at a very early age. Understanding the developmental stage of the young bird is the most important step in determining whether it is in danger or simply going through a natural stage of growth. Whether a baby dove will return to its nest depends entirely on this specific point in its development cycle.
Identifying the Young Dove: Nestling or Fledgling?
Differentiating between a nestling and a fledgling is the first step toward appropriate action. A dove nestling is too young to survive outside the nest structure and appears mostly featherless, or covered only in down and emerging pin feathers. Nestlings are incapable of walking or hopping and rely entirely on a parent for warmth and feeding. If a dove at this stage is found on the ground, it has fallen accidentally and requires immediate help.
A fledgling is a young dove that has left the nest intentionally, typically around 12 to 14 days old. This bird is fully feathered, though its plumage may appear softer and less sleek than an adult’s, and it often has a noticeably shorter tail. A fledgling can hop, walk, and flutter short distances, demonstrating an ability to move itself along the ground or to low branches. While not yet proficient flyers, fledglings are mobile and may exhibit small white markings on their faces or white spots on the tips of their feathers.
The Fledging Stage: Why Doves Do Not Return
Once a dove has reached the fledgling stage, it will not return to the original structure. This departure is a deliberate biological event, signifying the transition from nest-bound dependence to active exploration. Doves and pigeons are altricial birds, meaning their young are born helpless, but their extremely rapid growth rate allows them to leave the nest in under two weeks.
This early departure is an adaptation that reduces the risk of predation at the nest site, as the flimsy, exposed nests of doves offer little protection. The parents do not abandon the fledgling; they continue to provide supervision and sustenance from nearby, safer locations. For the next week or two, the adults feed the fledgling on the ground or in low cover until it gains full independence. This feeding uses “crop milk,” a nutrient-rich substance produced by both parents in their crop lining.
Knowing When (and How) to Intervene
Intervention is necessary only if the young dove is a nestling or a fledgling that is visibly injured or in immediate peril. If the bird found is a nestling—unfeathered and immobile—the best course of action is to locate the original nest and gently place the bird back inside. It is a misconception that a parent bird will reject its young if a human has touched it, as avian species generally do not have a strong sense of smell. If the original nest is too high or destroyed, a temporary substitute nest can be created from a small container with drainage holes and secured near the original site.
For a healthy fledgling, which is fully feathered and mobile, the correct action is to leave it alone. These birds are simply in the final stage of development. If the fledgling is in a location of immediate danger, such as a busy walkway or near a pet, it can be gently moved a very short distance (no more than 10 to 20 feet) to a safer, sheltered spot like a dense shrub. If a dove at any stage is cold, bleeding, shivering, or has been caught by a cat, it must be immediately transported to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.