These common birds, recognized by their gentle cooing, adapt well to diverse habitats, including suburban areas, roadsides, and even human structures. Their widespread presence often sparks curiosity about their reproductive habits.
The Breeding Cycle Begins
The breeding season for doves typically begins in early spring, often in March, and can extend through mid-fall, usually October. In warmer southern regions, nesting activities may begin earlier and continue longer, sometimes year-round. Environmental cues like increasing daylight hours and rising temperatures play a role in initiating this reproductive period.
Courtship rituals, which involve the male’s distinct cooing sounds and aerial displays, mark the start of the breeding cycle. Doves are prolific breeders, capable of raising multiple broods within a single season. A pair can produce anywhere from two to five, and sometimes even up to six, broods annually. This rapid breeding strategy is essential for population maintenance, particularly given the relatively high mortality rates doves experience. A full nesting cycle, from egg laying to the young leaving the nest, typically takes about 30 days.
From Eggs to Hatchlings
Dove nests are generally simple structures, often described as flimsy platforms crafted from twigs, pine needles, or grass stems. These nests are often so loosely constructed that the eggs can sometimes be seen from below. The male dove typically gathers the nesting materials, bringing them to the female who then weaves them into the shallow, cup-shaped nest. This nest-building process is remarkably quick, usually taking only two to four days to complete. Doves also demonstrate adaptability by sometimes reusing their own previous nests or even those abandoned by other bird species.
A typical clutch consists of two plain white eggs. While two eggs are the norm, a female might occasionally lay an egg in another pair’s nest, resulting in a rare clutch of three or four eggs. Incubation usually begins after the second egg is laid and lasts approximately 14 to 15 days. Both parents share the incubation duties, with the male often taking the day shift and the female incubating from late afternoon through the night. The nest is almost continuously attended during this period.
Upon hatching, the young doves, known as squabs, are altricial, meaning they are helpless, have closed eyes, and are covered with only sparse, ivory-colored down. Their skin can appear dark, and they possess a temporary egg tooth, which assists them in breaking free from their shell. These newly hatched squabs are entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and care.
Raising and Fledging the Young
Both parent doves feed their squabs a unique, nutrient-rich substance called “crop milk,” also known as “pigeon milk.” This milky secretion, produced from the lining of their crop, is high in protein and fat, supporting the rapid growth of the young birds. For the first three to five days after hatching, squabs are fed exclusively this crop milk. As the squabs develop, their diet gradually transitions, with seeds being introduced and increasingly supplementing the crop milk.
Squabs exhibit rapid development, typically fledging, or leaving the nest, within about 11 to 15 days after hatching. While they depart the nest quickly, they may not be fully grown or entirely independent at this stage. Fledglings often remain close to the nesting area for another one to two weeks, continuing to receive food from the father. This allows the female to prepare for another brood.
The male dove may continue to feed the fledglings for up to a month until they achieve complete independence. This efficient and condensed breeding cycle, with each nesting attempt lasting around four weeks, enables doves to produce multiple broods, which is crucial for sustaining their populations.