The baby Mourning Dove is formally known as a squab. Its infancy is remarkably brief, as they grow incredibly fast and leave the nest only about two weeks after hatching. This rapid development, combined with natural camouflage, means the window for visual identification is very short. Most people encounter a young Mourning Dove in a transitional stage outside the nest. Understanding the distinct stages of a squab’s growth is the best way to accurately identify this common backyard bird.
Physical Features of the Nestling Squab
The earliest stage of a Mourning Dove’s life is spent entirely in the nest, relying completely on its parents. A newly hatched squab has pinkish-gray skin and a sparse covering of bright yellow or ivory-colored down. Their eyes remain closed for the first few days, and they cannot regulate their own body temperature.
The nestling phase is characterized by rapid growth, fueled by “crop milk,” a protein-rich secretion from the parents. Their bodies appear disproportionately small compared to their developing beaks and feet. Within four to five days, the skin begins to darken, and the first true feathers emerge as small, dark shafts.
Identifying the Fledgling Stage
The fledgling stage begins when the young dove leaves the nest, typically between 11 and 14 days old. Although fully feathered, the plumage looks noticeably different from an adult’s smooth coat. Juvenile feathers feature distinct pale or white tips, giving the bird a scaly or frayed appearance, particularly across the wings and neck.
Fledglings are smaller than adult doves and possess a short, stubby tail, which is one of the last features to reach full length. A notable visual marker is the bird’s large, dark eyes, which look oversized relative to the head. These young birds spend several days on the ground, hiding in vegetation while they practice flapping and build muscle strength for flight.
Comparing Young Doves to Similar Species
The young Mourning Dove’s slender body, small head, and muted coloration distinguish it from other common backyard fledglings. Unlike a young American Robin, which has a speckled breast and an upright posture, the young dove sits lower and has a uniform gray-tan or buffy color. The juvenile dove also possesses subtle black spots on its wings that carry over into adulthood, a pattern absent on most songbird fledglings.
The long, pointed tail of the Mourning Dove, even when short on a fledgling, separates it from the stockier, rounder bodies of young House Sparrows or pigeons. House Sparrow fledglings are streaky brown and lack the dove’s elegant, tapering shape and its distinctive black wing spots. Observing the combination of the scaled feather tips and the inherently slender dove shape is the most reliable way to confirm its identity.