How to Attract Mourning Doves
Mourning doves are gentle, soft-colored birds with a soothing coo. They live year-round across most of the US and are easy to attract with seed on the ground or a platform.
What mourning doves eat
Doves eat mostly seeds: millet, cracked corn, sunflower and safflower. They swallow seeds whole and store them in a pouch in the throat, then digest them later.
A premium mix of nuts, fruit and sunflower without cheap filler seeds birds throw on the ground. The easiest single bag to attract lots of different birds.
Check price on Amazon for Lyric Supreme Wild Bird Seed (opens Amazon)Cardinals love safflower. Squirrels, grackles and starlings usually don't, which makes it a smart seed for feeders that get raided.
Check price on Amazon for Wagner's Safflower Seed (opens Amazon)Feed them on a platform or the ground
Doves are big and prefer to feed on flat surfaces. A platform feeder or seed scattered on the ground suits them much better than a tube.
An open tray feeder that welcomes the widest range of birds, including cardinals, doves, jays and juncos that prefer to feed in the open.
Check price on Amazon for Woodlink Platform Feeder (opens Amazon)Water and grit
Doves drink a lot, and they can suck water up without lifting their heads. A bird bath is a big draw. They also pick up small grit and gravel to help digest seeds.
Open water in winter brings in birds that never visit seed feeders, like robins and bluebirds. This bath has a built-in thermostat, so it only heats when the water is close to freezing.
Check price on Amazon for API Heated Bird Bath with Stand (opens Amazon)Frequently asked questions
What's the whistling sound when doves take off?
It comes from their wing feathers. It may help warn other doves of danger.
Why are dove nests so flimsy?
Doves build quick, loose platforms of twigs. Flimsy as they look, doves can raise several broods a year.
Do mourning doves migrate?
Many in the north move south for winter, but across most of the US you'll see them year-round.
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