As the summer months roll in, the gentle and melancholic coos of Mourning Doves become a familiar and comforting sound, often accompanying beautiful summer mornings. If you’re looking to welcome more of these charming birds into your garden, understanding their preferences is key. This guide will explore the ideal setup to attract Mourning Doves, ensuring your backyard becomes a haven for them.
Mourning Doves are primarily granivores, meaning their diet consists almost exclusively of seeds and grains. Unlike many other songbirds that feast on insects and small creatures, Mourning Doves prefer the bounty of seeds from wild grasses, weeds, and herbs. Occasionally, they might supplement their diet with berries or even a snail.
What to Feed Mourning Doves
Enticing Mourning Doves to visit your feeders is a straightforward endeavor, especially since they are not particularly picky eaters when it comes to seeds. Most high-quality wild bird food mixes contain their favorite dietary staples. Look for mixes that include:
- Sunflower seeds
- Safflower
- Nyjer
- Cracked corn
- Peanuts
- Millet
Ensuring your bird feed contains these items will significantly increase your chances of attracting Mourning Doves.
Best Feeders for Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves naturally prefer open spaces and fields, which translates to them often feeding on the ground. Their physical build makes maneuvering in confined spaces, like dense trees or feeders with small perches, quite challenging. They tend to be a bit clumsy and often struggle to maintain their balance in such settings.
To best accommodate them, consider using a platform feeder or a large hopper feeder. These types of feeders offer ample space for Mourning Doves to perch comfortably. If you find that other, more agile birds are dominating your feeders, Mourning Doves will also readily use a ground feeder. Since they often forage for fallen seeds on the ground anyway, a dedicated ground feeder provides a clean and readily available food source.
Lyric Supreme Mix is an excellent choice, as it is formulated with sunflower seeds, peanuts, millet, and other nutritious ingredients designed to attract Mourning Doves. Providing feeders that allow them the necessary space to perch and balance will allow you to relax and enjoy observing their visits. You might notice that they often feed in pairs, which could be a reflection of their mating behavior, as these birds are known to mate for life.
Creating a Welcoming Habitat
Beyond the right food and feeders, consider the overall environment of your backyard. Mourning Doves appreciate open areas with scattered perching spots. Planting native grasses and wildflowers can provide natural food sources and shelter. Avoid dense shrubbery right around feeding areas, as they prefer a clear line of sight. Water is also essential, so a bird bath or a shallow dish of water can make your yard even more appealing.
Understanding Mourning Dove Behavior
Mourning Doves are generally gentle and non-aggressive birds, though they can be territorial at their own feeding spots. Their characteristic “coo-COO-coo” call is a common sound during breeding season, and it’s how they establish territory and attract mates. They build simple, flimsy nests, often just a platform of twigs, in trees or on ledges. Both parents share incubation and feeding duties.
Conclusion
Attracting Mourning Doves to your backyard is a rewarding experience, offering the chance to observe these serene birds up close. By providing the right food, suitable feeders, and a welcoming habitat, you can transform your garden into a favorite spot for them. Enjoy the peaceful presence and the distinctive calls of the Mourning Dove as they become a regular part of your outdoor sanctuary.
