Nesting Habits of Doves

Mated doves generally bond for life and prepare to nest in the spring. The two birds work together during the entire process of preparing for and hatching their broods. For people who keep doves as pets or who have a brooding pair in their yards, it is important to understand their nesting habits. This increases the chance of the birds successfully nesting and caring for their eggs and young.

  1. Nest Building

    • Doves build their nests in locations that are approximately 5 to 25 feet high. The males gather building materials such as weeds, grass, twigs and pine needles that the females use to build the nests. These are light, loosely put together structures that make it easy for eggs to fall out if a sudden movement occurs, such as a startled bird fleeing its nest. Doves will often return to a successful nest during the same season to lay another brood. In some parts of the country, generally toward the South, doves may have up to five broods.

    Incubation

    • Most doves lay two eggs, while others lay only one. These eggs require continual incubation for approximately 14 days until they are ready to hatch. This is done in turns by both the male and female bird. The male dove sits on the eggs during the daytime hours only to switch with the female at night. Because the two look alike, this often gives onlookers the impression that the female bird does not leave the nest at all.

    Feeding

    • Both the male and the female bird participate in the feeding of their young. With some types of doves, such as the mourning dove and the white dove, it begins during the incubation process when both begin to produce a milk-like substance in their crop that is called pigeon milk. This contains nutrients that are necessary for the young bird, which feed directly from the crop of the parents. Baby doves feed on pigeon milk for the first few days of life. For other doves, such as the Diamond dove, the young feed on regurgitated food for the first two weeks.

    Abandonment

    • Doves are flighty animals that will abandon nests, eggs or their young if they feel threatened by the presence of either humans or animals. Care must be taken to not disturb the nest, which may also result in the doves abandoning their babies. Lice, mites and other pests that bite are also reasons for the birds to leave.