The Mourning Dove is one of North America’s most widespread and common bird species, recognized by its distinct, soft cooing call. Its success across diverse environments is largely due to its remarkable reproductive strategy, which allows it to lay eggs and raise young with a frequency unmatched by most other native birds. This prolific breeding habit sustains its large population despite high rates of natural mortality.
The Standard Reproductive Timeline
The mourning dove’s nesting cycle is highly abbreviated, providing the foundation for its frequent egg-laying schedule. A typical clutch consists of two eggs, which are laid on consecutive days. Both parents share incubation duties, with the male sitting during the day and the female taking the overnight shift. Incubation lasts approximately 14 days before the eggs hatch.
Once hatched, the young, called squabs, are fed a specialized, high-protein substance known as “crop milk,” secreted from the parents’ crops. The diet gradually transitions to seeds as the squabs grow rapidly. They are ready to fledge, or leave the nest, after about 12 to 15 days. After fledging, the young remain dependent on the male parent for feeding for up to two more weeks while the female often prepares for the next nesting attempt.
Maximum Nesting Frequency Per Season
The rapid completion of a single nesting cycle allows Mourning Doves to lay eggs far more often than most other species. The entire process, from egg-laying to the young becoming independent, can take as little as four to six weeks. This quick turnaround permits the pair to initiate a new clutch almost immediately.
The breeding season is exceptionally long, starting as early as February in southern regions and extending through September or October elsewhere. Because of this extended timeframe, a single pair can potentially raise up to five or six successful broods in a single season under ideal conditions. This maximum nesting frequency is the highest recorded for any North American bird species. To facilitate this speed, the female may begin laying eggs in a new nest while the male is still caring for the recently fledged young.
Environmental Factors Affecting Egg Laying
While Mourning Doves have a high reproductive capacity, the actual frequency of egg-laying is highly variable and dependent on local environmental conditions. Geographic location is a major determinant; doves in the southern United States benefit from a much longer breeding window than those in northern regions. The availability of necessary resources also directly impacts the female’s ability to produce subsequent clutches.
Ample food, primarily seeds, and accessible water are necessary to sustain the energy demands of repeated egg production and feeding the young. Weather patterns also play a role, as cold snaps or heavy rains can delay the start of the breeding season or destroy existing nests. If a nest fails due to predation or disturbance, the pair will usually attempt another nesting immediately.