Mourning Dove Diet and Feeding Habits
Primary Types of Food in Diet
Mourning doves are primarily granivorous, meaning their diet is dominated by seeds. They favor seeds from native grasses, weeds, and cultivated grains such as millet, sunflower, corn, wheat, and sorghum.
Wild seeds from plants like pigweed, foxtail, and ragweed are commonly eaten, especially in unmanaged fields and roadside areas.
During the growing season, they may also supplement their diet with small berries, tender greens, and the occasional insect, especially when feeding young.
How Doves Obtain and Process Food
These birds forage almost exclusively on the ground, walking steadily while pecking individual seeds from bare soil or short vegetation.
Unlike many backyard birds that use their feet to manipulate food, mourning doves rely solely on their beaks.
After collection, seeds are stored in a muscular pouch in their throat called the crop. This allows them to feed quickly and digest later in safer perches.
In the gizzard, tough seeds are ground down with the aid of grit, such as small stones or sand, that the bird deliberately swallows to assist with mechanical digestion.
Do Doves require water daily?
Yes, mourning doves need regular access to water, particularly because seeds contain little moisture.
They're one of the few bird species capable of drinking through suction, allowing them to take in water without tilting their heads back between sips.
An Oklahoma States University study states that when temperatures are around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit, doves may go four or five days without drinking water.
However, in hotter conditions near 100 degrees, they need access to water every day.
In dry environments, they'll also drink dew or consume succulent plant material to meet their hydration needs. Daily water access is especially important during breeding and molting seasons.
Food Availability and Dove Survival
Food abundance significantly impacts their reproductive cycle. During spring and summer, when seeds are plentiful, pairs may raise up to five or six broods in a single season.
In contrast, poor seed availability can delay or reduce breeding attempts. Juvenile survival rates also drop in lean years, as adults struggle to maintain body weight while provisioning their young.
Flock sizes and local population densities often reflect seasonal changes in food supply.
Unique Feeding Adaptations
Mourning doves have evolved several traits suited to their seed-based diet. Their conical bill is perfectly shaped for cracking and manipulating small seeds.
Their large crops allow them to gorge quickly and retreat to digest, minimizing predation risk while foraging.
Their flight muscles are well developed, helping them cover broad areas in search of food.
Notably, they can digest a wide variety of seed types, giving them an advantage in both wild and urban landscapes.
