Mourning Doves, known for their gentle cooing and presence, are a cherished bird in many backyard settings across the country. When it comes to feeding, mourning Doves eat from bird feeders. These birds are often spotted in North America and Mexico, characterized by their moderate size, slender bodies, delicate necks, and elongated tails enabling swift flight, reaching speeds of up to 55 miles per hour.
Mourning doves are recognized for their soft cooing sounds, heard all day long. They mainly eat seeds and usually peck around on the ground to find food. These birds have a neat trait: males and females look different. Males have bluish-gray heads and necks, while females lean towards brownish-gray.
One cool thing about them is they stick with one partner for life, even during migration. Speaking of migration, they head south for winter, often traveling together in groups, though where they go can change depending on where they are.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Mourning doves, known for their gentle cooing, are cherished backyard visitors across North America and Mexico.
• When it comes to feeding, mourning Doves eat from bird feeders and primarily feed on seeds.
• These birds exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males boasting bluish-gray hues and females displaying brownish-gray colors.
• Mourning doves form lifelong pair bonds, remaining devoted partners even during migration.
• Their winter migration sees them traveling southward, typically in flocks, with migration patterns influenced by various environmental factors.
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Mourning Doves and Bird Feeders
Mourning doves are commonly spotted in many backyards, known for their preference for seeds and ground feeding habits. If you have a bird feeder, you might wonder if mourning doves will feed from it, and the answer is yes, they will feed from bird feeders. However, they may struggle with feeders featuring small perches.
To attract them, consider using a platform or tray feeder, which provides ample space for easier access. Preferred foods for mourning doves include cracked corn, black sunflower seeds, and millet. While these foods are enticing, their spillover can still attract doves, even if they can’t access the feeder directly.
Mourning Doves Diet And Feeding Habits
As someone who loves birds, I’ve always been curious about what mourning doves like to eat. Turns out, they’re big lovers of seeds, munching on various types like those from grasses, weeds, and crops. They also enjoy snacking on berries and small fruits, but nuts and suet don’t really grab their attention, so they might not flock to feeders stocked with those.
Mourning doves stick to a seed-based diet, chowing down on grains, weed seeds, and even berries, snails, and insects. They’re not picky about where they eat either, preferring to peck around on the ground rather than fussing with tight spaces or perches on feeders. Sunflower seeds, cracked corn, millet, and a few other seeds are sure to catch their eye at a feeder, especially if it’s on the ground or a platform.
Adding grit to their diet is important for their digestion, which can be as simple as a crushed eggshells mixed in with their food. And during breeding season, they need extra protein and fat to fuel them, so offerings like mealworms, shelled sunflower seeds, or peanuts can be a big hit. It’s all about providing them with the right kind of munchies to keep them healthy and happy.
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Feeding Habits of Mourning Doves
Mourning doves prefer feeding on the ground, but they’ll also make regular stops at backyard bird feeders in search of food, especially during winter when resources are scarce. These visits are fueled by their unique digestive system, which includes a pouch-like organ called a crop that stores food before digestion. This organ produces a nutritious liquid known as “crop milk” or “pigeon milk,” essential for feeding their young.
In their natural habitat, mourning doves feast on a variety of grains like wheat, corn, millet, and oats, along with hulled peanuts, sesame seeds, and black oil sunflower seeds. They’ll also nibble on tree seeds from pine and sweetgum trees. To entice them to your feeder, offer a diverse mix of grains and seeds such as cracked corn, grain sorghum, milo, millet, and safflower seed.
Maintaining a fresh and balanced diet is crucial for the well-being of mourning doves. Avoid using stale or moldy food, as it can harm them, and keep the feeder clean to prevent the spread of disease among visiting birds. Providing a nutritious and clean environment ensures a steady visit of these lovely birds to your backyard.
Mourning Doves and Their Environment
Mourning doves love seeds and prefer feeding on the ground, although they occasionally visit bird feeders. They like feeding under elevated feeders, quickly filling their crop with seeds before resting to digest. These birds also regularly consume grit, like small gravel, to aid in the digestion of hard seeds.
You can spot mourning doves in various habitats, from fields and farms to grasslands and prairies. They particularly enjoy areas with scattered trees and shrubs, which offer perching and nesting spots. Wild grasses and other vegetation provide them with ample food sources. During nesting season, mourning doves often build their simple nests on the ground or flat surfaces such as roofs.
Made from grass, weeds, and other materials, these nests typically house white eggs, slightly larger than grapes, laid by the female. Once hatched, the baby mourning doves, known as squabs, are covered in a thin layer and remain relatively immobile. Both parents take turns caring for the squabs, incubating the eggs and providing food until the young birds are ready to leave the nest independently.
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Mourning Doves and Squirrels
Mourning doves primarily feed on seeds and frequently visit bird feeders to satisfy their appetite. However, they’re not the only ones drawn to these feeding stations. Squirrels also have a keen interest in bird feeders and can be quite persistent in their attempts to access the food. So, what happens when both mourning doves and squirrels vie for the same feeder?
When mourning doves and squirrels compete for access to a bird feeder, it can create challenges. Squirrels, known for their tenacity, often resort to climbing or leaping onto the feeder from nearby trees or structures, disrupting the peaceful feeding environment for the doves and hindering their access to food.
To mitigate this issue, one solution is to use a squirrel-proof feeder designed to thwart squirrels’ climbing or jumping attempts while still allowing mourning doves and other birds to feed undisturbed. Alternatively, installing a baffle around the feeder can prevent squirrels from scaling the pole or tree supporting the feeder.
If squirrel-proofing measures aren’t feasible, there are other strategies to deter squirrels. Placing the feeder in a hard-to-reach location, such as atop a tall pole or in a tree away from climbing surfaces, can discourage squirrel visits. Additionally, applying a squirrel repellent around the feeder or on its surface can dissuade squirrels from approaching.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I attract mourning doves to my feeder?
To draw mourning doves to your feeder, offer either a platform feeder or a spacious hopper feeder that suits their size. If the feeder gets busy with other birds, mourning doves will also use a ground feeder. Given their tendency to search for fallen seeds, a ground feeder ensures they have access to a clean food source.
What do mourning doves eat besides birdseed?
Mourning doves primarily consume seeds and greens, occasionally opting for berries or snails. They may also consume insects, earthworms, caterpillars, and snails when available. However, they typically do not eat peanuts in the shell, whole peanuts, striped sunflower seeds, walnuts, acorns, or other large nuts.
Why don’t mourning doves use bird feeders as often?
Mourning doves prefer feeding on the ground rather than on a feeder, and they feel more at ease in solitary or paired feeding situations, often avoiding crowded feeders.
What type of feeder is best for mourning doves?
Since mourning doves typically feed on the ground, it’s advisable to use a platform feeder or a large hopper feeder for them. Additionally, a ground feeder can offer a clean and fresh food source.
Do mourning doves eat suet or peanuts?
Mourning doves typically do not eat suet. Likewise, they are unlikely to eat peanuts in the shell, whole peanuts, striped sunflower seeds, walnuts, acorns, or other large nuts.
How can I keep squirrels away from my mourning dove feeder?
To deter squirrels from accessing your mourning dove feeder, consider using mesh, netting, or non-invasive bird spikes to discourage their presence near feeding areas and nesting sites. Alternatively, using a squirrel-proof feeder specifically designed to prevent squirrels from reaching the food is another effective option.
Are mourning doves known to feed from bird feeders during the winter months?
Yes, mourning doves will continue to visit bird feeders throughout the winter season as long as food remains accessible. Maintaining a steady food supply during winter can effectively entice them to frequent your backyard.
Final Thought
Mourning Doves captivate bird lovers with their gentle nature, melodic calls, and graceful appearance. Their preference for seed-based diets and frequent visits to bird feeders bring joy to many. With their elegant flight and slender figures, they remain cherished symbols of beauty and tranquility, leaving a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to watch them.