Mourning doves are widespread and recognizable birds across North America, often seen foraging in backyards and open fields. Their gentle cooing is a familiar sound. These adaptable birds thrive in various habitats, including suburban areas. The reproductive journey of mourning doves is a swift process from egg-laying to the independence of their young.
The Incubation Period
The incubation period for mourning dove eggs typically lasts about 14 days. This duration is quite consistent, though slight variations can occur based on environmental conditions. Incubation is the process where adult birds warm their eggs, using their body heat to facilitate the embryo’s development until hatching.
During this period, the eggs are kept at an optimal temperature, usually around 38°C, which is essential for the cells within the egg to divide and differentiate into a fully formed chick.
Parental Care During Incubation
Mourning doves share incubation responsibilities. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. The male typically incubates the eggs during the day, from morning until late afternoon, while the female takes over for the remainder of the day and throughout the night. This division of labor allows both parents to forage for food and maintain their energy reserves.
Mourning doves usually lay a clutch of two pure white eggs, laid a day or two apart. They are prolific breeders, and a single pair can raise multiple broods, sometimes up to five or six, within a single breeding season, especially in warmer climates. The nest is often a flimsy platform of twigs and grasses, constructed quickly, sometimes in just two to four days, with the male bringing materials to the female who weaves them together.
From Hatchling to Fledgling
Upon hatching, young mourning doves, known as squabs, are altricial, meaning they are helpless, blind with closed eyes, and covered in sparse, cream-colored down. Their initial survival is entirely dependent on their parents for warmth, protection, and nourishment. The growth rate of these nestlings is rapid.
Both parents feed the hatchlings a highly nutritious substance called “crop milk,” secreted from the lining of their crops. This protein and fat-rich substance is fed to the squabs for the first few days, after which their diet gradually transitions to partially digested seeds. Young doves are ready to leave the nest, or fledge, at an early age, typically between 11 to 15 days after hatching. Even after fledging, the young birds may remain near their parents for another week or two, continuing to receive food and guidance.