Doves are small birds that live in the wild and can be tamed at home. They are mostly referred to as love birds. They come in various colors and feed on seeds, fruits, and insects. It’s important to understand their reproductive traits, as it will help in knowing their laying habits, including their breeding season, how many eggs they lay, and the various factors affecting their breeding cycle.
Doves lay an average of two eggs in a single clutch. With a clutch of two eggs, a dove can lay up to ten eggs in a year. The number can vary depending on the age and health of the dove; hence, you may have some doves laying a single egg while others have up to four eggs in a clutch.
The frequency of egg-laying in doves varies depending on the following factors:
1. Age of The Dove
Young doves lay fewer eggs because they are not as productive as their older counterparts.
2. Health Status of The Dove
Sick doves lay fewer eggs as compared to healthy ones. Lack of enough minerals necessary for egg formation can also affect the productivity of doves and lead to egg-binding.
3. Availability of Food
During the seasons with abundant food, the doves are more productive and lay more eggs, as there is enough food to feed their chicks.
4. Breeding Conditions
Doves are more productive when the weather conditions are favorable. Mild temperatures provide a favorable environment for laying eggs and raising chicks.
5. Dove Species
The number of broods laid by doves varies from species to species, with some laying one egg and others up to four eggs.
6. Stress Levels
Stress affects the frequency of egg-laying. A stressed dove will lay fewer eggs than a happy and comfortable dove.
7. Genetics
Doves don’t have the same gene structure. Some have genes that trigger laying more eggs, while others have fewer egg-laying genes.
8. Breeding Experience
Seasoned layers lay more often as compared to first-time layers.
9. Geographical Location
Climatic conditions vary for each location. Hence, doves from warmer climates have more broods each year than doves from colder climates.
Do Doves Lay Eggs Year Round?
Doves can lay eggs year round depending on their species and the geographical conditions. They can have many breeding seasons in a year, and in some areas, they breed all year.
So, how many eggs does a dove lay in a year?
On average, a dove can have 2–5 broods in a year. Hence, with a clutch of two eggs, a dove can lay 4 to 10 eggs in a year
Do Doves Lay Eggs On The Ground?
Yes, doves can lay eggs on the ground.
Doves build nests on trees, shrubs, ledges, vines, bushes, and housetops. Without the others, they can build nests on the ground and lay eggs in them.
When Do Doves Lay Eggs?
The breeding season for doves begins at different times depending on the species and geographic range.
Doves mostly lay in the spring and summer, and some can have numerous breeding periods in a year. Not all doves produce eggs annually due to poor heat and unfavorable weather for egg-laying.
How Long Do Doves Sit on Their Eggs?
Doves’ eggs are incubated for two weeks before they hatch. The doves sit on the eggs to keep them warm and sheltered.
Both males and females take turns incubating the eggs. The female sits on them late in the afternoon through the night, while the male takes turns during the day.
After hatching, both doves feed the chicks using crop milk and, later, hard foods. The squash leaves the nest at around 4-6 weeks of age.
How Many Times a Year Do Doves Hatch Eggs?
Due to their short incubation periods, doves can raise up to six broods annually.
However, as they are erratic birds, they can easily abandon their eggs. Also, their nests are loose and flimsy, and eggs can easily fall through if the bird is startled, which can reduce the number of broods hatched in a year.
What Is the Lifespan of a Dove?
Doves are fragile, hearty, and unique birds that can withstand predators and diseases. Their lifespans differ depending on the species and living conditions.
They have an average lifespan of 1.5–25 years, with 75% of the chicks dying before the first year due to predation and diseases. Once they survive the first year, their chances of survival increase drastically.
The lifespan of doves can be cut short by:
- Predation by cats and foxes.
- Lead poisoning as they feed on the ground.
- Diseases and starvation arising from changes in habitat.
Do Doves Return To the Same Nest?
Yes, doves can sometimes return to the same nest. They often reuse old nests or nesting sites if they have raised a successful brood in them.
They can also use the nests of other birds or build a new nest for each brood.
Mourning Dove Nesting Habits
Mourning doves nest in trees, bushes, the ground, ledges of houses, and abandoned equipment. They make their nests from pine needles, twigs, grass, and stems. The doves usually start making nests as early as January or February in the south and March in the North.
The males collect building materials, while the females weave the pieces together to make the nest.
So, What month do mourning doves lay their eggs?
The nesting season for mourning doves runs from February to October.
During this time, a mated pair may have 5-6 clutches due to their short incubation periods. Each clutch takes a month to raise.
When Do Mourning Doves Lay Eggs?
Mourning doves reach sexual maturity at one year of age. They can mate year-round but are more productive in the spring and summer months. Once a male has selected a partner, they can mate for life, producing chicks every year.
You may be wondering, How often do mourning doves lay eggs?
Mourning doves have around five to six broods every year in warmer climates. In colder climates, the breeding period is delayed by a month, and the doves usually have two to three broods.
What Steals Mourning Dove Eggs?
Dove eggs and hatchlings are prone to being preyed on by other wild animals. Snakes, like rat snakes, are known to take the doves’ eggs, while cats prey on the mature doves.
Mice and rats catch hatchlings and contaminate nests, which can cause diseases and sometimes kill the doves.
Do Mourning Doves Eat While Sitting On Eggs?
Yes. Mourning doves take turns sitting on the eggs; they can forage for food when it’s not their turn to incubate. The doves feed on seeds and nuts, grains, grasses, flowers, insects, worms, and snails.
Do Mourning Doves Ever Abandon Their Eggs?
Yes, morning doves can abandon their eggs. As they are easily frightened, they may abandon their eggs and even nestlings and look for new nesting sites if:
1. They feel threatened by predators and curious humans.
2. They are attacked by biting insects like ants, mice, and lice.
3. They sense that their eggs are infertile.
Do Mourning Doves Mate For Life?
No, mourning doves don’t mate for life, as they are seasonally monogamous. Thus, they form new bonds each breeding season.
They court before mating by cooing, bowing, and regurgitating. However, many re-pair with the same mate the next breeding season. Some pairs will also remain together all year in warmer regions.