The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is one of the most widespread and recognizable birds in North America, known for its gentle nature and characteristic, soothing coo. These visitors are easily attracted to residential areas that meet their needs for feeding, drinking, and nesting. Creating a welcoming environment involves modifications to your yard setup, focusing on the dove’s preference for ground access and stable structures. Understanding their foraging habits and nesting requirements encourages these birds to become a regular presence in your outdoor space.
Essential Food Preferences and Delivery Methods
Mourning doves are primarily granivores; their diet consists almost entirely of seeds. They prefer small, energy-rich seeds that are easily swallowed whole, such as white proso millet, cracked corn, and hulled sunflower seeds. Avoid large, shelled seeds, as these are difficult for the doves to process.
These birds are not agile climbers or perchers, and they rarely use small, hanging tube feeders common for songbirds. Their natural feeding style is to forage directly on the ground in open areas. To accommodate this, scatter seed directly onto a clear patch of ground or utilize low-profile platform feeders.
Platform feeders or shallow trays placed close to the ground offer the wide, stable surface a dove needs to feed comfortably. A dove rapidly fills a specialized pouch in its esophagus, called a crop, before flying to a safe perch to digest its meal. This behavior minimizes the time the bird spends exposed to predators on the ground.
Grit, consisting of tiny pieces of sand or gravel, is an important component of their diet. Because doves lack teeth, they intentionally consume grit to store in their muscular gizzard, which acts like a mill to grind and break down tough seed casings. Ensuring a small patch of bare soil or a dish of fine sand is available near the feeding area supports their digestive health.
Designing Accessible Water Sources
Fresh, clean water is a daily requirement for mourning doves, who seek out sources both in the morning and evening after feeding. Unlike many birds that must tilt their head back to swallow water, doves continuously drink while keeping their bill submerged. This unique method makes the design of the water source important.
The ideal water source is a shallow bird bath or a dish placed on a low stand or directly on the ground. The water depth should not exceed one to two inches, as doves are poor swimmers and prefer to wade while drinking. Placing small stones or a ramp inside the bath can provide better footing.
Locate the water source in an open area with good visibility, away from dense vegetation where a predator might hide. Doves prefer to land and observe the surroundings before approaching, so an unobstructed approach makes them feel more secure. To prevent the spread of disease, the bath must be cleaned and refilled frequently, especially during warmer months.
Creating the Optimal Habitat and Nesting Structures
Mourning doves rely on a diverse habitat that offers open feeding areas and dense cover for shelter and roosting. They seek protection from weather and predators in evergreen shrubs, dense vines, or coniferous trees. These sheltered spots are used for resting during the day and roosting overnight.
Doves are notoriously poor architects, building flimsy, flat platforms of twigs that often result in egg loss. They seek stable, flat surfaces to support their simple nest structure, typically locating them in the crotch of a tree, on a horizontal limb, or within dense shrubbery. Nests are usually placed lower than those of other birds, often between 5 and 25 feet off the ground.
To increase nesting success, offer artificial nesting aids that provide the stable foundation they seek. Simple wire cones, baskets, or shallow wooden platforms can be installed in tree branches or under the eaves of a porch or shed. A nesting platform should be around 8 to 10 inches wide with a low lip to keep the nest materials contained.
These artificial structures mimic the necessary support and can significantly reduce the loss of eggs or nestlings due to their fragile natural nests. Keeping domestic cats indoors or away from feeding and nesting sites helps ensure the doves feel safe enough to remain and raise their young.