Mourning Doves are classified as members of Kingdom Animalia. These birds came under the phylum Chordata and class-specific to them is called Aves. These doves are members of the order Columbiformes and species are called Columbidae. Other names used for this bird are rain dove, turtle dove, Carolina turtledove, and American mourning dove.
These are medium-sized and slim in shape. These birds are generally light brown and grayish and are usually monogamous. Their legs are short and red. Their beak is short and dark in color. Males and females are alike in appearance and both parents care for their young ones. The national bird of the British Virgin Islands is the mourning dove.
There are almost five subspecies of this bird. All of them look identical and one feels difficulty in distinguishing them. Male species showed characteristic and nostalgic sounds cooocooo-wooo-wooo-woo to attract their female partners. On summer days, these birds are everywhere, and their soft and mournful voice offer excellent music in the morning.
Shelter and habitat
They avoid marshlands and thick forests. The mourning dove usually inhabits open habitats such as grasslands, woody areas, prairie, and urban areas. If you are willing to attract wild doves, you need to develop a nesting and shelter desk.
Nesting materials like pine needles, clippings of dried grass, and twigs can be used to construct a nest. This method attracts wild doves and avoids dirty surroundings consisting of unnecessary nests. Once a sheltered nest is constructed, it should be regularly cleaned to avoid any disease outbreak.
Doves as granivores
Dissimilar to other singing birds, these birds don’t desire insects, including spiders. They usually eat weeds, grains, herbs, and some seeds. They sometimes eat snail or berry by chance.
Suitable birdfeeders for mourning doves
Their natural habitat is open areas and fields and they preferably do their feeding on the ground. The best method to attract them is to disperse a handful of seeds on the ground. Seeds can be adjusted to feeder pens which is having holes on all sides. Feeders which are in hanging positions are more attractive for other wild doves.
When they experience living in narrow and denser areas, they feel difficulty in managing their balance and residence. A stage or hopper feeder can easily accommodate these birds. When there is a crowd and competition with other birds, doves prefer to reside on the ground feeder. They mostly feed on dropped seeds dispersed on the ground which provides them with hygienic, fresh, and easily available food ingredients.
What Do Mourning Doves Eat? Recommended Feed of Mourning Doves
If their favorite feed is less in the summer due to harsh conditions of the environment, then an excellent food mixture for wild birds should be offered. The mixture contains cracked corn, sunflower seeds, peanuts, safflower, and millet. All the contents of this mixture are of high quality and nutrition.
Contents of feed
The maximum limit of seeds in the diet should be 50 to 60%. The feed should not only have seeds but vegetables and fruits also play an important role to fulfill nutrient requirements. Different formulated rations are available for performance, breeding, and resting doves depending on the conditions.
Cereals
It is excellent food and a major component of doves’ diet. It is essential for the growth of raising young ones. Cereals contain 70% carbohydrates, 3 to 8% fats, 8 to 12% proteins, and 2 to 4 % minerals. Cereals are rich in vitamin E and B but deficient in vitamin A.
Corn
Corns can be offered to doves every day. These seeds contain a high percentage of proteins and carbohydrates and help in improving digestibility. Broken corns are of high energy content and are very helpful in the growing period of young birds. Overeating of corn full diet should be avoided because it leads to fatty birds.
Oats
Oats are not having good taste but are required in moderate doses because they are best for the growth of their feathers. These are helpful for the circulatory and nervous systems of mourning doves. For the diets of laying birds, a small amount of oats is used. These seeds are very helpful in the winter season.
Wheat
As compared to other feed ingredients, wheat should be offered to doves in a little amount. It has high contents of carbohydrates, so its excess leads to fatty doves.
Peas
These seeds are a complete source of minerals, proteins, and fats. It is easily digestible and improves the health of doves. It is excellent for both young and adult birds. The use of peas activates the immune system, minimizes fatigue, and contributes to the healthy growth of mourning doves. The diet of young birds contains a 20% contribution of peas.
Vetch
Its contribution to diet should not be more than 15%. It is essential for the maintenance of the nervous system. It is not recommended for young and growing doves and is slowly introduced in the diet of adult doves to avoid any side reaction.
Pulses
These are a good source of protein and nutrients and contain less amount of fat. It contains a high amount of vitamin B, calcium, and phosphorus salts. Pulses are good to use in diets of any type of bird.
Feed mixture
If you want a mixture that contains all the essential nutrients, you will easily find them. Many market brands are working on fed mixtures and are easily available in any pet shop. The feed mixture contains a balanced ratio with almost all the essential ingredients in an optimum proportion. These mixtures offer doves good, healthy, and long-lasting life.
Green vegetables and fruits
Selected vegetables and fruits should be offered in diets. Before offering, wash them properly to avoid the damaging effects of certain pesticides and other chemicals. An essential way to serve doves is to cut the fruits and vegetables into relatively smaller pieces and offers them in separate utensils to avoid mixing up.
A variety of food ingredients should be included in the doves’ daily diet routine. Offer green vegetables to pet birds 4 to 5 times a week. Green food is an excellent source of nutritious ingredients which are very helpful for strong performance in the coming years. In the case of wild birds, the main ingredient of their diet is the seed. Pet doves are always vegetarians.
Use of pellets
Pellets are formulated based on nutritional requirements. Pellets are usually applicable in diets specific for growing and adult doves. 50% contribution of pellets in doves’ diet is the ideal ratio. These are easily available in any pet store. In case of any problem, you should consult a veterinarian and he will recommend you the best food for your pet dove.
Vitamins
Vitamins are very important for the metabolism of birds. There are two types of vitamins. Essential vitamins are those which cannot be synthesized by the body and are fulfilled by different diet ingredients. Non-essential vitamins are those which are synthesized by the body. The digestive system of birds absorbs a little number of vitamins. Therefore, extra vitamins are required to fulfill their vitamins-related insufficiency.
Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, and K are very essential for doves. Vitamin A is important in maintaining the health of mucus membranes and skin. It prevents usually skin-related problems. Vitamin B includes thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, choline, pantothenic acid, and pyridoxine. These contributed to the vital health-related functions of doves and other birds.
Vitamin C is essential in controlling the metabolism of birds and it is present in different types of seeds. If the liver is damaged due to any disease or any other factor, vitamin c can not be produced as required then it is required artificially from other sources. When birds are exposed to sun rays, their body produces vitamin D which is important for absorbing calcium in the body of doves.
Vitamin E is usually present in grains and acts as an antioxidant and helps in performing various metabolic functions in the cell. Vitamin K is present in the digestive area of doves and also present in green vegetables. It helps in the coagulation of blood. Excessive use of antibiotics damaged the bacteria of the digestive tract which results in vitamin K deficiency.
Hunting habit of doves
Most of the doves are granivores, but few consume animals as their food. They pick up grubs, caterpillars, ants, snails, and some insects which are crawling on the ground or within their reach. If the insect is very small, they easily swallow them. There is no need to crush them into smaller pieces. In the case of little bit larger insects, the shell is broken down into smaller pieces to get access to meat.
Water requirement
Doves require more water in comparison to other birds. They should be supplied with an adequate water supply. The water should be fresh, clean, and free of harmful chemicals and dust. All the food utensils should be properly washed regularly. A running fountain should be there to attract the mourning doves. If it is not possible then drinkers for birds should be arranged.
