Mourning doves construct nests using twigs, grasses, and pine needles, which they find nearby. The male dove chooses the materials and carries them to the female, who weaves them together to create a flimsy nest that is about 8 inches across
.The male may interrupt the female’s work to pursue her, but the two work together to build the nest. The construction can take a few hours to a couple of days, and the nest is usually unlined and has little insulation for the young.
Mourning Dove Nesting
NEST PLACEMENT Tree – Typically nests amid dense foliage on the branch of an evergreen, orchard tree, mesquite, cottonwood, or vine.
Also quite commonly nests on the ground, particularly in the West. Unbothered by nesting around humans, Mourning Doves may even nest on gutters, eaves, or abandoned equipment. NEST DESCRIPTION A flimsy assembly of pine needles, twigs, and grass stems, unlined and with little insulation for the young. Mourning Dove.
Over 2 to 4 days, the male carries twigs to the female, passing them to her while standing on her back; the female weaves them into a nest about 8 inches across. Mourning Doves sometimes reuse their own or other species’ nests.
NESTING FACTS
Clutch Size: 2 eggs Number of Broods: 1-6 broods Egg Length: 1.0-1.2 in (2.6-3 cm) Egg Width: 0.8-0.9 in (2.1-2.3 cm) Incubation Period: 14 days Nestling Period: 12-15 days Egg Description: Unmarked, white.
Condition at Hatching: Helpless, eyes closed, sparsely covered in cream-colored down, unable to hold up head, dependent on adults for warmth.
Mourning Dove: Both the male and female mourning dove take turns sitting on their eggs during incubation, which lasts about 14 days.
The male usually sits on the nest during the day, while the female takes her turn at night. The nest is rarely left unattended. After the pair finishes building the nest, which takes two to four days, the female usually lays the first egg within a couple of days, and a second egg a day or two later.
The eggs are 1.0-1.2 in (2.6-3 cm) long and 0.8-0.9 in (2.1-2.3 cm) wide. Once the eggs hatch, both parents participate in caring for the young doves, called squabs. The squabs are fed a diet of “pigeon milk” for approximately 3 days. Mourning doves build nests in trees that are made of pine needles, twigs, and grass stems.
The nests are unlined and provide little insulation for the young. Mourning doves sometimes reuse their own or other species’ nests. NEST PLACEMENT Tree-Typically nests amid dense foliage on the branch of an evergreen, orchard tree, mesquite, cottonwood, or vine. Also quite commonly nests on the ground, particularly in the West. Unbothered by nesting around humans,
Mourning Doves may even nest on gutters, eaves, or abandoned equipment.
NEST DESCRIPTION A flimsy assembly of pine needles, twigs, and grass stems, unlined and with little insulation for the young.
Over 2 to 4 days, the male carries twigs to the female, passing them to her while standing on her back; the female weaves them into a nest about 8 inches across. Mourning Doves sometimes reuse their own or other species’ nests.
NESTING FACTS Clutch Size: 2 eggs Number of Broods: 1-6 broods Egg Length: 1.0-1.2 in (2.6-3 cm) Egg Width: 0.8-0.9 in (2.1-2.3 cm) Incubation Period: 14 days Nestling Period: 12-15 days Egg Description: Unmarked, white. Condition at Hatching: Helpless, eyes closed, sparsely covered in cream-colored down, unable to hold up head, dependent on adults for warmth. Incubation lasts about 14 days and both the male and female take part. The male usually sits on the nest during the day while the female takes her turn at night. The nest is rarely left unattended. Young doves (called squabs) are fed a diet of “pigeon milk” for approximately 3 days.