Doves frequently dominate backyard bird feeders. Their large size and preference for standing on stable, flat surfaces or the ground often makes it difficult for smaller songbirds to access the available seed. Several non-harmful adjustments to feeding practices can encourage these larger birds to forage elsewhere. Modifying the feeder’s design, changing the menu, and managing the surrounding environment creates a feeding station more welcoming to smaller species.
Adjusting Feeder Design
One of the most effective methods for excluding larger birds is the use of weight-activated feeders. They automatically close access to the seed ports if the weight exceeds a pre-set threshold. Since doves are significantly heavier than birds like finches or chickadees, their weight triggers the shut-off, preventing them from feeding. This system works to keep out not only doves but also larger pest species like squirrels.
Another physical modification involves installing protective caging or wire mesh around existing feeders. The mesh must have openings large enough for smaller birds, such as tits and sparrows, to pass through comfortably, but too small for the wider body of a dove. Doves also prefer wide, stable perches, so shortening the perches on tube feeders or replacing them with very thin wire perches can make it physically challenging for them to land and feed comfortably.
If using a standard tube feeder, ensuring the perches are short is a simple adjustment that benefits smaller, clinging birds. Birds like chickadees and nuthatches are adapted to cling directly to surfaces, while doves rely on a horizontal platform to stand. Eliminating large, stable surfaces, such as wide platform trays, discourages doves from lingering and monopolizing the feeding ports.
Selecting Unappealing Seed Types
Changing the type of seed offered can naturally deter doves, as they prefer large, easily consumed grains and seeds. Doves readily consume common filler seeds like millet and cracked corn. Eliminating these lower-cost ingredients helps reduce the primary attractant for doves.
A more targeted approach involves switching to seeds that are difficult for doves to crack open or that they find distasteful. Safflower seed, which has a hard white shell and a slightly bitter flavor, is notably less appealing to many doves and pigeons compared to sunflower seeds. However, some species of doves, such as the Mourning Dove, may still eat safflower, so its effectiveness can vary regionally.
Nyjer seed, often called thistle seed, is another highly selective food source that doves generally avoid. Nyjer is a tiny black seed that is a favorite of small finches, like American Goldfinches, and is best dispensed from specialized feeders with very small ports or mesh socks. The small size of the seed and the restrictive nature of the feeder design make it impractical for a large dove to consume in bulk.
Strategic Feeder Placement and Cleanup
Doves are primarily ground-feeding birds that forage for fallen seeds. Therefore, managing the area beneath the feeder is often the most impactful strategy. Rigorous and frequent cleanup of spilled seed prevents doves from establishing a consistent, easy food source on the ground.
Installing a seed catcher tray or a baffle directly beneath the feeder is an effective way to minimize spillage. These accessories prevent seed hulls and uneaten particles from reaching the ground, forcing doves to look elsewhere for food. Using a no-mess seed blend, which consists of hulled seeds and nuts that leave no mess, can also significantly reduce ground debris and attractants.
Feeder height and placement also influence dove presence. Hanging feeders at a height of five to eight feet off the ground places them out of easy reach for ground-foraging birds and may deter them from accessing the ports. Furthermore, doves prefer to land on stable, open surfaces, so placing feeders away from nearby railings, fences, or large tree branches that provide convenient perches will make access more challenging for them.