Discover the secrets to attracting Mourning Doves to your feeder with these simple and effective tips. Mourning Doves are not only beautiful birds, but they are also peaceful and easy to attract. They get along well with other birds at the feeder and eat a wide variety of seeds, making them a joy to have in your backyard. Learn about the best foods to attract Mourning Doves, the ideal feeders for them, and additional ways to create an inviting habitat for these graceful birds. With these strategies, you’ll have a flock of Mourning Doves enjoying your feeder in no time!
Why attract Mourning Doves to your bird feeder?
Mourning Doves are beautiful and common birds coast-to-coast across the United States. They are named for their mournful but soothing calls. Thus, they are a favorite feeder bird of many. But why should you specifically attract Mourning Doves to your bird feeder? Well, there are a few reasons.
Firstly, Mourning Doves get along well with other birds at the feeder. Though they are large, they are not aggressive. They feed peaceably with other smaller birds. So, having Mourning Doves at your feeder can create a harmonious environment for all the avian visitors.
Secondly, Mourning Doves are easy to attract. They eat a wide variety of seeds and are not picky. In fact, they may be some of the first birds to visit your feeder. So, if you want to enjoy the presence of birds at your feeder without putting in too much effort, attracting Mourning Doves is a great option.
Lastly, Mourning Doves can benefit your yard and garden. They eat weed seeds, so they can help control yard weeds. They also often eat on the ground, cleaning up under the feeder. By doing so, they help keep rodents away from the feeder by eating the spilled bird seed. So, attracting Mourning Doves not only brings beauty to your yard but also helps in maintaining its cleanliness and health.
What foods will attract Mourning Doves to your feeder?
Mourning Doves eat a wide variety of grains and seeds. To attract them to your feeder, you can offer them black oil sunflower seeds, millet, cracked corn, and even generic mixed bird seed. These seeds are easily available and relatively inexpensive compared to specialty bird foods.
A great option is Wagner’s Songbird Supreme, which is a mixed bird seed that contains a combination of seeds that Mourning Doves love. It does not have any cheap filler seeds that many native birds won’t eat, so birds of all kinds, including Mourning Doves, will enjoy it. Another recommendation is a quail seed block, which is a block of bird seed held together with gelatin or molasses. This lasts longer than loose seed and has seeds that are especially attractive to doves, quail, and house sparrows. By offering these types of bird food, you can ensure that Mourning Doves are enticed to your feeder.
What kind of feeders do Mourning Doves like?
Mourning Doves prefer to eat on the ground, so providing a large platform feeder is perfect for them. You can place the feeder on the bare ground, gravel, or even a cement patio. This allows the doves to easily access the food and feed in their preferred manner. They may also squeeze onto the trays of small hopper bird feeders, but keep in mind that this might keep smaller birds from feeding or even result in tipping or knocking over the feeder. So, it’s best to provide a ground platform feeder specifically for Mourning Doves. You can easily find ground platform bird feeders on platforms like Amazon.
Where to place your bird feeder for Mourning Doves
When it comes to placing your bird feeder for Mourning Doves, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Mourning Doves primarily feed on the ground or on low platforms, so you can scatter bird seed directly on the bare ground or on a raised platform. If you choose a platform feeder, make sure it is low enough for the doves to access easily. You can also consider raising it if you have issues with deer or other animals reaching the feeder.
In terms of location, the general rule for bird feeders is to place them within 8 feet of your windows or over 30 feet away. This is because when birds are startled, if they are close to the house, they are not going very fast and can veer off in time when they see their reflection in the window. If you have experienced a lot of bird window strikes, you may need to experiment with the placement of your feeder to find the optimal spot.
How else can you attract Mourning Doves to your yard?
In addition to providing food at your feeder, there are a few other ways to attract Mourning Doves to your yard. After eating, Mourning Doves often look for water. Providing a bird bath or a flowerpot saucer on the ground filled with water can be greatly appreciated by the doves. They not only drink from it but also take frequent baths, which adds to their overall enjoyment.
Mourning Doves also eat grit to aid in digesting their food. You may notice them eating small bits of stone on road edges or gravel driveways. So, having some areas with gravel or small stones in your yard can attract the doves and provide them with the grit they need.
Lastly, Mourning Doves will nest on special shelves or nesting cones. So, if you want to provide them with an ideal nesting spot, you can consider installing a nesting shelf or cone under your eaves or in a carport. This can encourage them to not only visit but also make your yard their home.
Problems with feeding Mourning Doves: If you have attracted too many to your feeder
While attracting Mourning Doves to your yard can be a delight, there can be some challenges if you attract too many of them to your feeder. Some people simply don’t like doves and pigeons, so having an excess of them might not be desirable.
Mourning Doves eat quickly and eat quite a lot. They have a unique way of swallowing the seeds whole and storing them in a crop to digest later. This means that if you have too many Mourning Doves, they can empty your bird feeders quickly, leaving little for other birds to enjoy.
Moreover, even though they aren’t aggressive, Mourning Doves can hog a feeder and keep smaller birds from fitting in. They might also tip over or knock down feeders in their attempt to access the food. Additionally, too many doves can create a mess with their excrement. Bird droppings can splatter your yard furniture and cars, making it inconvenient to maintain a clean outdoor space.
To avoid these problems, it might be necessary to regulate the amount of bird seed you put out and create an environment that is more welcoming to a diverse range of bird species.
Mourning Dove FAQ
Here are some common questions about attracting and feeding Mourning Doves:
Q: Can Mourning Doves eat peanuts in the shell? A: No, Mourning Doves do not like peanuts in the shell. They are not designed to crack open hard shells.
Q: Can Mourning Doves eat suet? A: Mourning Doves are not known to eat suet.
If you have more questions about attracting and feeding Mourning Doves, feel free to ask in the comments below and we’ll be happy to provide answers.
Related articles: Why aren’t birds coming to your feeder?
If you’re also interested in attracting other types of birds to your yard and are wondering why they aren’t coming to your feeder, you may find our related article on this topic helpful. It explores possible reasons why birds might not be visiting your feeder and offers tips on how to address those issues.
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Are you interested in attracting other bird species to your feeder? Our article on attracting Black-capped Chickadees provides valuable insights and tips on how to make your feeder more appealing to these delightful little birds.
January 2023: Thank you so much for visiting!
We hope you found this article on attracting Mourning Doves to your bird feeder informative and helpful. Mourning Doves can bring beauty, peacefulness, and a sense of harmony to your yard. By following the suggestions outlined in this article, you can create an environment that is attractive to these birds and enjoy their presence.
If you have any further questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We appreciate your visit and hope to see you again soon!
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