Migration and Habitat

image of mourning dove wings

The fifth primary feather in this dove wing has been shed and is being replaced by a half-grown adult feather. The primary covert feather at its base is darktipped. The covert feathers at the bases of the outer five primary feathers are still lighttipped, which means that those juvenile feathers have not been replaced by adult plumage.

All of the primary coverts of this wing are dark-tipped, and the juvenile plumage has been entirely replaced with adult feathers. This could be an adult hatched the year before, or a bird of the year hatched in early spring. It is impossible to tell without internal examination.

The story begins in Missouri each March when mourning doves migrate to natal areas from the previous year. Males begin establishing breeding territories by calling from exposed branches in dead trees or even utility lines. The typical call is a familiar five syllable "perch-coo."

Doves are strongly monogamous. Following courtship in April, males select the nest site and mated pairs begin nest construction.

Dove nests are flimsy and far from safe for either eggs or flightless squabs (nestlings). Two or three twigs placed on horizontal tree branches constitute a nest. Doves sometimes use old robin or bluebird nests as their own, and in areas dominated by grasslands, doves will nest on the ground.

The male dove is very attentive and actively participates during nesting. He not only chases away rival males, but he helps the female perform such domestic duties as incubating the eggs and feeding the squabs. Males normally incubate during the day and females at night.

The average clutch size is two eggs, which are usually incubated for fourteen days. newly hatched squabs are fed "pigeon milk," a secretion from the adult cropgland. After about seven days they are gradually weaned to seeds. Young doves grow rapidly, usually leave the nest 1-014 days after hatching, and are fully fledged at 13-15 days. Once the pair completes the first nest, they start on the next. Most birds stop reproducing after the first successful nest, but doves resume egg laying a few days after the young ar on the wing. dove pairs average five nests per year, but as many as seven nesting attempts have been recorded. Missouri doves nest from late March to early September.

[image of mourning dove on nest] [image of mourning dove eggs in nest]

"Pigeon milk," a rich nourishing secretion from the crop gland of adult male and female pigeons, lasts about seven to nine days. The squabs are gradually weaned to seeds.

Less than 50 percent of nesting attempts are successful due to rain, winds and hail. Eggs and chicks often fall prey to snakes, hawks, skunks and other mammals.

During July and August juvenile doves begin flocking together at feeding and roosting sites, building to peak numbers during lat August and early September. Weather conditions determine how long doves remain in the state. The first signs of winter trigger an instinct to fly south and, except for doves in southeastern Missouri, most leave by October 15. A few choice locations with abundant food and roosting sites hold flocks all year. During southerly flights, adult doves from northern states may mingle with Missouri doves.

The annual turnover rate in doves is high. They reproduce at a high rate and live but a short time. Only 40 percent of mourning doves hatched in a given year survive until the next breeding season.

Dove Habitat Requirements

Food Habits and Water Holes

[image of open farmland and pond]Food and water generally are not limiting factors for mourning doves in Missouri. Harvesting of crops, such as corn and wheat, leaves behind waste grain, and is an important dove food source. Corn from the previous year's harvest is the primary food in spring. Doves also eat waste wheat, sorghum, sunflower and rice after the summer harvest. In the fall, seeds of foxtail, bristlegrass, ragweed, pigweed and other annual weeds are eaten.

Crops and doves are compatible. The foot structure of the birds prevents them from clinging to upright stalks or canes, or eating the seeds that cling to them. Therefore, the birds cause little, if any, damage to agricultural crops. Their foot structure also makes them poorly adapted to scratching or digging, and food covered by dense top growth, crop stubble, or snow is not available to them. As a rule, doves seek water in midmorning and late evening. They prefer open shorelines at least 30-50 feet wide and without vegetation. A few dead trees at the edge of the pond increases its dove appeal.

Nesting Cover and Success

Dove nesting habitat varies from open grasslands to trees and shrubs in residential areas. Doves benefit from conversion of natural habitats into cultivated areas or pasturelands. They are especially abundant in fields, orchards or generally weedy areas with many grains or seeds.

[image of autumn field]Mourning doves in Missouri nest primarily in trees and shrubs in residential areas. Doves prefer to nest in areas with scattered trees, projections of timber into fields, fence rows or treelined creekbanks. In Missouri, good nesting habitat is fairly low, shrubby trees in fence rows or at forest edges. Conifers are often used for first nests, but are less likely to be used in later nesting attempts. Nesting sites attract more doves when surrounded by bare ground, such as in orchards. Favored nesting trees in Missouri include cedar, honey locust, post oaks, elm, hackberry, hawthorn, osage orange, box elder and fruit trees. Many urbanites know that doves will also nest in residential shade trees, usually building their nests 5-15 feet above ground level. Nest success is generally higher in the summer than in the spring, with an overall success rate of 64 percent.

Roosting Cover

Doves roost in habitats ranging from grasslands to dense timber. Dove species that roost in trees also prefer to nest in trees. Maintaining or creating roosting cover near feeding sites can be an effective way of concentrating doves. Planting trees and shrubs, singly or in groups, provides spring and summer nesting sites and fall roosting sites for flocking and migrating doves. Hedgerows and shelterbelts also provide nesting and roosting sites, and conifers are good winter cover.

Doves Dwelling in Cities

Elevated bird feeders and baths do not serve doves. Food and water must be available at ground level for them. Both should be located away from tall vegetation or other visual obstructions where city predators like house cats could hide.