Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Genus: Zenaida
Species: Zenaida macroura
Conservation Status in Idaho
Least Concern
Range and Habitat
Farms, towns, open woods, roadsides, grasslands. Found in almost any kind of open or semi-open habitat in temperate parts of North America, including forest clearings, farmland, suburbs, prairies, deserts. May be most common in edge habitats having both trees and open ground, but also found in some treeless areas.
Physical Features
Plump-bodied and long-tailed, with short legs, small bill, and a head that looks particularly small in comparison to the body. The long, pointed tail is unique among North American doves.
Diet
Doves enjoy a variety of foods, including seeds, pellets, fruits, and vegetables.
Lifespan
7-15 years in the wild; up to 25 years in captivity
Reproduction
These doves are monogamous and have the longest breeding season of any North American bird, from February to October. Courtship begins in late winter, and nest building can take up to four days. Mourning doves often build their nests in trees or shrubs 5–15 feet high, using twigs and grass. They prefer trees with large horizontal limbs or conifers to provide support. The female usually lays two white eggs a couple of days apart, and both parents take turns incubating them for about 14 days. After hatching, the young leave the nest after about 15 days, but stay nearby until they are more confident flying, which is usually around 30 days old. Both parents feed the young “pigeon milk”. Mourning doves can have 1–6 broods per year, and may attempt 2–5 nestings depending on food availability. Their high reproductive rate is necessary because of high mortality rates, with up to 70% of immature doves and 60% of mature doves dying each year.
Social Behavior and Interaction
Doves are social birds that are happiest in flocks. In the wild, they seek the company of other doves for protection from predators and competition.
Major Threats
Predation, collisions, loss of breeding habitat and human activities