FACTS ABOUT MOURNING DOVES

Among the many species in the Columbidae family, mourning doves are among the most widespread and common in North America, the region they originate from. It is not a case that they are used as a symbol by many North American countries, such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and the British Virgin Islands. They derive their name from the characteristic sound the males utter to attract females, which is similar to the sound produced by owls.

Feeding - Like all the other species in their family, mourning doves typically eat seeds. Though wild bird seeds one can find in ordinary pet stores are generally suitable for them, many breeders choose to feed their mourning doves with an original mix to include their preferences, which comprise millet, safflower, and sunflower seeds, among others.

Housing - Being medium-sized birds, mourning doves do not need too much space: an aviary having a width of 4', a length of 8', and a height of 6' can be enough for them. As for any other dove, the aviary must be kept clean to avoid diseases.

Breeding - Mourning doves are mostly monogamous birds. A brood generally produces two young's. Therefore, making mourning doves breed might be pretty challenging. To improve the chances of a couple of breeds, different factors should be considered, from the abundance of nesting sites in the aviary to their privacy. Sometimes, the opposite problem might present: a couple of mourning doves could breed too often, up to once every six weeks. This should be avoided since it is unhealthy for the birds.

Nesting - To make nesting easier for doves, it is good to provide the aviary, besides the necessary nesting material, with some aids, such as nesting boxes put at different heights, both very simple or more elaborate.