Introduction
Mourning doves, with their gentle cooing and graceful flight, are a common sight across much of North America. These adaptable birds are a welcome addition to backyards, parks, and even urban environments. Their widespread presence makes them a familiar species, but truly understanding their needs, especially their dietary preferences, is key to attracting them to your property and contributing to their overall well-being. What exactly constitutes a mourning dove’s favorite food? It’s more than just birdseed. Knowing what they eat allows us to better support their survival and enjoy their presence in our surroundings.
This article delves deep into the world of mourning dove nutrition, exploring their dietary staples, supplemental food sources, and the ways in which their eating habits vary based on location and season. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of what mourning doves love to eat and how to provide them with a balanced and healthy diet. While sometimes referred to as turtle doves, the mourning dove stands alone in their dietary preference and habits.
The Mourning Dove’s Primary Food Source: Seeds
The foundation of a mourning dove’s diet is, without a doubt, seeds. These birds are granivores, meaning that seeds constitute the bulk of their caloric intake. Their bodies are well-adapted to efficiently collect and process seeds, making them their ideal and most readily available food source.
So, what specific types of seeds are most appealing to mourning doves? While they are generally opportunistic feeders and will consume a variety of seeds, some are definitely preferred over others. A garden of sunflowers provides a tasty feast.
Sunflower Seeds
These are a favorite among many bird species, and mourning doves are no exception. Sunflower seeds, especially the black oil sunflower seeds, are high in fat and energy, making them an excellent choice for sustaining doves throughout the year. Offering sunflower seeds is a surefire way to attract these birds to your backyard feeder.
Safflower Seeds
Similar in appearance to sunflower seeds but slightly smaller, safflower seeds are another excellent option. While some birds avoid safflower seeds, mourning doves readily consume them. A bonus is that safflower seeds tend to deter squirrels, allowing the doves to feast uninterrupted.
Millet
This small, round seed is a staple in many birdseed mixes and is highly attractive to mourning doves. Millet is easy for them to handle and digest, making it a readily available energy source. It’s a particularly good option for younger or weaker birds.
Cracked Corn
A readily available and relatively inexpensive option, cracked corn can be a good addition to a mourning dove’s diet. However, it should be offered in moderation, as it is not as nutritionally complete as some other seed types. Make sure the corn is cracked into small pieces that are easily digestible.
Wheat
Wheat grains are commonly found in agricultural areas and are a natural part of the mourning dove’s diet in those regions. You can also offer wheat as part of a birdseed mix, or simply scatter it on the ground.
Oats
Similar to wheat, oats are another grain that mourning doves will consume. Rolled oats, in particular, are easy for them to eat and digest.
Ragweed Seeds
In many areas, ragweed is considered a nuisance plant, but its seeds are a valuable food source for mourning doves, especially during the fall and winter months.
Other Wild Grass Seeds
Mourning doves frequently forage for seeds in fields and grasslands, consuming a variety of wild grass seeds. Planting native grasses in your yard can provide a natural and sustainable food source for these birds.
Mourning doves have evolved specialized adaptations to efficiently consume seeds. Their crop, a pouch-like structure in their esophagus, allows them to quickly gather and store large quantities of seeds. They then digest these seeds later, at their leisure. They also possess strong gizzards, muscular organs that grind the seeds to aid in digestion.
Supplemental Foods: When Seeds Aren’t Enough
While seeds form the core of their diet, mourning doves will supplement their intake with other food sources, especially when seeds are scarce or during specific life stages. These supplemental foods provide essential nutrients and minerals that may not be readily available in seeds alone.
Grit and Minerals
Mourning doves, like many other birds, require grit – small particles of sand, gravel, or crushed shells – to aid in digestion. Grit helps to grind down seeds in the gizzard, making it easier for the birds to extract nutrients. Doves will often ingest grit opportunistically from the ground. You can also provide a supplemental source of grit by scattering it in a designated area of your yard. Similarly, they need minerals for bone growth and egg production. A mineral supplement in powder form can be added to their drinking water or mixed with seeds.
Berries and Fruits
During certain times of the year, especially in the late summer and fall, mourning doves may consume berries and fruits. These offer a source of vitamins and antioxidants. Examples of berries they might eat include elderberries, serviceberries, and wild grapes. The availability of these fruits depends on the region and habitat. Planting native berry-producing shrubs and trees can provide a natural and sustainable food source for doves.
Insects
While adult mourning doves primarily consume seeds, insects play a crucial role in the diet of young doves. Baby doves, or squabs, are initially fed “crop milk,” a protein and fat-rich substance produced in the parents’ crops. As they grow, they require more protein to support their rapid development. Insects, such as small beetles, ants, and caterpillars, provide this essential protein. Parent doves will forage for insects and bring them back to the nest to feed their young. While it’s difficult to directly provide insects for wild mourning doves, maintaining a healthy and diverse ecosystem in your yard can encourage insect populations, indirectly benefiting the doves.
Regional and Seasonal Variations in Diet
The diet of mourning doves is not static; it varies depending on the region in which they live and the season. In rural areas, mourning doves have access to a wider range of natural food sources, including wild seeds, grains, and berries. They may forage in agricultural fields, consuming spilled grain or seeds. In urban areas, mourning doves may rely more heavily on bird feeders and human-provided food sources.
Seasonal changes also impact the diet. During the spring and summer, when insects are abundant, parent doves will focus on providing their young with a protein-rich diet. This is also the time when new seed growth is at its peak, providing a readily available food source for adults. In the fall and winter, as insect populations decline and fresh seeds become scarcer, doves rely more heavily on stored seeds and supplemental food sources, such as bird feeders. They may also forage for seeds in areas where snow cover is minimal. Providing a consistent source of food during the winter months can be particularly beneficial for mourning doves, helping them to survive the colder weather.
Attracting Mourning Doves with Food
Attracting mourning doves to your yard can be a rewarding experience. By providing them with their favorite foods, you can create a welcoming habitat and enjoy their gentle presence. Here are some tips for attracting mourning doves with food:
Offering Favorite Seeds in Platform Feeders or on the Ground
Mourning doves are ground feeders, so they prefer to eat from platform feeders or directly from the ground. Scatter their favorite seeds, such as sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, and millet, in these areas. Make sure the feeders are easily accessible and provide ample space for the doves to perch.
Planting Native Seed-Bearing Plants
Create a natural and sustainable food source by planting native seed-bearing plants in your yard. Native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs will provide a variety of seeds that mourning doves will readily consume. Some good options include coneflowers, sunflowers, and asters.
Providing a Source of Grit
Offer a supplemental source of grit by scattering sand, small pebbles, or crushed shells in a designated area of your yard. This will help the doves digest their food more efficiently.
It’s also important to avoid offering certain foods that are not suitable for mourning doves. Avoid feeding them bread, salty snacks, or processed foods, as these can be harmful to their health.
Potential Dangers and Considerations
While providing food for mourning doves can be beneficial, it’s important to be aware of potential dangers and take steps to mitigate them. Attracting birds to feeders can also attract unwanted pests, such as rodents and other birds that may compete with the doves for food. Regularly clean up spilled seeds to prevent attracting rodents and other unwanted animals.
Bird feeders can also be a source of disease transmission. Birds congregating in close proximity at feeders can spread diseases through contact or contaminated food. Regularly clean and disinfect your feeders to prevent the spread of disease. Use a mild soap and water solution, followed by a rinse with a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water). Allow the feeders to dry completely before refilling them.
Be mindful of the impact of pesticides on their food sources. Pesticides can contaminate seeds and insects, posing a threat to mourning doves. Avoid using pesticides in your yard, or use them sparingly and responsibly.
Conclusion
The mourning dove’s favorite food is undeniably seeds, but understanding the nuances of their diet is key to supporting these beautiful birds. From their preference for sunflower and safflower seeds to their supplemental consumption of berries and insects, mourning doves adapt their eating habits to their environment and the changing seasons. By providing them with their preferred foods, a source of grit, and a safe and clean environment, you can create a welcoming habitat for these gentle creatures.
Learning more about the mourning dove’s dietary needs is a proactive step towards conservation and enjoyment of these birds. So, take the time to observe their feeding habits, provide them with a balanced and healthy diet, and support their presence in your local environment. Your efforts will contribute to the well-being of these fascinating birds and enrich your own connection with the natural world. By understanding their diet, we can do our part to help them thrive for years to come.
