In the summer months, it seems as if Mourning Doves are everywhere, while their gentle, mournful coos provide the perfect natural soundtrack on a gorgeous summer morning. If you’d like to see more of them in your backyard, here’s a look at what their ideal setup is.
Mourning Doves are granivores
Unlike other songbirds of summer, Mourning Doves don’t have an appetite for insects, spiders and creepy crawlies. They’re almost 100% granivores, going for the grains, seeds from wild grasses, weeds and herbs. They’ll also grab the occasional berry or snail.
What can you feed Mourning Doves?
While some of your feeder favorites may make themselves scarce in the summer, it’s really easy to entice Mourning Doves to stop in for a snack. Just about any high-quality wild bird food mix will feature some of their faves:
- Sunflower seeds
- Safflower
- Nyjer
- Cracked corn
- Peanuts
- Millet
Which feeders are best for Mourning Doves?
A Mourning Dove’s natural habitat is in fields and open spaces, so they’ll do much of their feeding on the ground. When it comes to maneuvering around tight spaces — such as a dense tree or a feeder with small perches — Mourning Doves have a tough time of it. They’re just too clumsy and struggle to keep their balance.
A platform feeder or a large hopper feeder can both comfortably accommodate Mourning Doves. If things are getting crowded and competitive with the other birds, Mourning Doves will also readily take to a ground feeder. You may see them foraging for dropped seeds on the ground anyway, so providing a ground feeder provides a fresh, clean food supply.
But if you set out feeders that give them the space to comfortably perch and keep their balance, you can sit back and enjoy their visit. In fact, you’ll find they usually eat in pairs, which could reflect the fact that these birds mate for life.
Lyric Supreme Mix is packed with sunflower seeds, peanuts, millet, and other nuggets to entice the Mourning Doves in your neighborhood. Pick up a bag today.