Doves, such as the common Mourning Dove, are familiar sights in urban and suburban environments. These widespread birds belong to the family Columbidae, characterized by a diet centered around seeds. The primary focus of their feeding habits is on plant matter, classifying doves as granivores. This article examines the role of ants in their diet, distinguishing between purposeful consumption and accidental ingestion.
Do Doves Consume Ants?
Doves do consume ants, but such instances are rare and opportunistic rather than intentional. They are not specialized insectivores and generally do not actively hunt for ants or other small invertebrates. Their diet is nearly 99% composed of plant matter, meaning animal protein, including ants, makes up a very small percentage of their total food intake.
When doves encounter an ant, they may consume it as a supplementary source of protein, especially during the breeding season when nutritional demands are higher. Ants, insect larvae, tiny snails, or small worms are usually ingested because they are present near the preferred food source. Some dove species avoid areas with heavy ant infestation, suggesting ants are not a favored meal.
Primary Components of the Dove Diet
Doves are overwhelmingly granivorous, relying on seeds and grains for their daily sustenance. Their digestive system is adapted to process this food, using a muscular gizzard to grind down the hard outer casings of plant seeds. Common items include seeds from wild grasses, weeds like ragweed, and agricultural grains such as cracked corn, wheat, and millet.
Doves frequently visit bird feeders and agricultural fields, gathering fallen safflower and sunflower seeds. Beyond seeds, they also consume soft plant material, including small fruits, berries, buds, or leaves. This varied plant-based intake provides the bulk of the carbohydrates and fats necessary for their energy and survival.
Foraging Behavior and Accidental Consumption
Doves are ground feeders, spending a significant portion of their time walking and picking up food directly from the soil surface. Unlike many other bird species, doves do not scratch or dig in the leaf litter to uncover hidden food sources. Their foraging technique involves a simple, casual scooping motion with the beak to gather food quickly.
This feeding method leads to the collection of whatever is mixed in with the seeds and grains. When a dove rapidly scoops up a mouthful of food, which often includes gravel ingested as grit for the gizzard, it may accidentally ingest a stray ant or ant egg. Doves have also been observed engaging in “kleptoparasitism,” stealing seeds that ants are actively carrying back to their nests. This behavior explains why ants appear in their diet despite not being intentionally hunted.