Mourning doves- raising the young

                MOURNING DOVES  (part 2)                 Mating And Raising Their Young

Almost identical you may spot the blue or pink feathers that distinguish
the male from the female in the sunlight.

Mourning doves are the most successful wild dove in North and Central America. They feed on a wide assortment of seeds and field waste grain. It is their ability to eat a vast  variety of weed seeds which makes them a valuable ally of farmers and gardeners.

The same with most bird species the mating ritual
 includes displays of feathers and the male feeding the female. 

Due to modern day tracking devices scientist now know that mourning doves mate for life; an old wives tale proven true.  If a dove does lose its mate they will eventually find a new one.

At this dramatic high point of  his dance, the males eyes are tucked deep in his feathers
making him extremely vulnerable to predators

At mating time the pair engages in an elaborate mating ritual with song, (coo-coo) feather displays and dance. The male then builds a loose nest five to twenty five feet above the ground out of twigs, grass, weeds and pine needles. The nest is so loose that you can see though it from below.

By feeding his mate the male proves he will be a good provider for his mate and their clutch. 

Once the eggs are fertilized the pair will tend the nest and their clutch together.  

The female lays two white eggs which both parents incubate for 14 to 15 days.  The male does the daytime shift and the female incubates at night.

 
Since the pair look very much alike most observers assume it is the same bird.  The switch happens quickly to keep the eggs warm and protected.

Pigeons and doves produce a very nutritious food for their young called 'pigeons milk'.  The parent opens it mouth wide and the young eat the mixture from inside.
Flamingos and Penguins also produce 'pigeon milk' for their young.

The first to hatch, both siblings will grow quickly and become fledglings within two weeks. 

Once hatched the squab (young doves) leave the nest after only twelve to fourteen days. Both parents teach the fledgling for a few days before starting the next clutch.  The pair can give birth to five clutches every year, often reusing the same nest.

Sadly the young mourning doves have a very high mortality rate of fifty to sixty percent. Hawks and other predators, human hunting, and the introduction of cats to our environment by Europeans takes a heavy toll on these indigenous doves.  If young birds live though the first year they can live to be four or five years old.

 You can see a few blue feathers on the doves back.
The male incubates during the day and the female at night.

If you are lucky enough to have a nesting pair of doves on your property try not to disturbed them. Mourning doves will quickly abandon their nest and even their nestlings if they feel endangered. 

Photographs of 'mating doves' taken by
Audra Loccisano on her Rahway deck.

Part one: 'Mourning Doves, Backyard Bird Feeding' was posted in December 2016

Happy Gardening, 

James