Doves are common birds found in various environments. Understanding their dietary preferences is important for their well-being and for those who wish to feed them responsibly. Their feeding habits offer insights into their survival strategies.
The Natural Diet of Doves
Doves are primarily granivores, meaning they mostly eat seeds and grains. As ground feeders, they forage on open ground for a wide variety of seeds, including those from wild grasses, weeds, and cultivated grains like wheat, corn, millet, and sorghum. For instance, a single mourning dove’s crop has been found to contain over 17,000 annual bluegrass seeds.
Beyond seeds, doves occasionally supplement their diet with other plant matter. They may consume various fruits and berries, especially during late summer and fall when seeds might be less abundant. Some species also eat flowers, buds, and leaves from trees such as willows or poplars. While their diet is largely plant-based, doves will sometimes ingest small insects, insect larvae, snails, or worms, particularly for additional protein during breeding season.
Doves have a unique drinking method: they submerge their bills and use a sucking action to draw water continuously, unlike most birds that tip their heads back. This adaptation allows them to drink quickly and remain vigilant for predators. To aid digestion, doves ingest small pieces of grit, such as gravel or sand, which helps their muscular gizzard grind down seeds.
Feeding Doves Responsibly
When offering food to doves, select items that complement their natural diet. Preferred seeds include white proso millet, safflower, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds. These can be scattered on the ground or placed in ground feeders or platform feeders, as doves are primarily ground feeders. Providing a variety of these seeds helps ensure a balanced nutritional intake.
Fresh, clean water should always be available for doves, as they require ample hydration. Bird baths are suitable, but they should be cleaned regularly to prevent disease transmission. Maintaining feeder hygiene is also important; regularly cleaning feeders and scattering seeds thinly rather than in large piles can minimize the risk of mold and bacterial growth.
Avoid certain foods when feeding doves, as they can be harmful. Processed human foods, such as bread, salty snacks, chocolate, and caffeine-containing foods, are toxic. Avocado is also toxic to birds. Additionally, fruit pits and apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanide and should not be offered. While grit aids digestion, overfeeding it can cause gastrointestinal problems, so provide it in moderation.