Nesting Mourning Doves

Nesting Mourning Doves

by Fred
(Texas)

I have a mourning dove nest in my back yard on top of my fence at the beginning if a bushy vine and have been watching for 2 weeks.

Each night around 7pm the male/female relieves the other. The last 2 days I have not witnessed any relief at all and it appears the same bird has been on the nest for around 48 hrs.

I believe the eggs will hatch any day now - can one adult care for the 2 baby dove by him/her self? Will the one bird now on the nest (90 degree heat) survive without relief?

Is there anything I can do to help the one survive - like place a small pan of water/seed on the fence top near the nest, etc.

If I get too close the nesting bird will fly off but returns almost immediately when I depart the area.

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Nesting Mourning Doves

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Feb 23, 2010
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Identifying Mourning Doves
by: Anonymous

Male and female MOURNING DOVES can be told apart by the iridescent sheen of the neck feathers. Males have a pink/green sheen to these feathers and females do not. Hope that helps you out.

Jan 16, 2010
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Male & Female Gender
by: Anonymous

Does anyone know how to tell the difference between male and female gender doves?

I have a mourning dove that is a pet of mine. Bebe my dove, is originally from the Baltimore area. Grey in color, some white & black tail feathers. Bebe has two distinct markings on both sides of the face, pink in color.

The only time Bebe coos is when, Bebe is looking for me. Bebe is a bit of a nite owl and likes to listen to easy listening music.

May 19, 2009
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Nesting mourning doves.
by: Cindy

Fred,
Both Male and female take turns on the nest, be it feeding or incubating.. and both continue to care for their young even when they leave the nest.. until they are fully on their own and nature calls to them for their own pairing. You can't tell the difference between male and female. That has to be done by a special technique. I wouldn't worry about them. Doves pair for their lifetime.. unless something happens to one or the other.
Just keep watching, and you may be pleasantly surprised! Where one parent.. "isn't" you can bet it has its family in sight!
Enjoy!
Cindy.. Ca high desert mountains.

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