What Do Mourning Doves Eat?

Mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) are a species of game birds found throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, up to the Arctic. They’re a popular species that can be found in urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.

If you’re considering adding mourning doves as part of your backyard wildlife habitat, you might be interested to know more about their diet. What do mourning doves eat, and how can you provide the kinds of food that these animals need?

Seeds

Mourning doves are primarily seed eaters. The bulk of the mourning dove’s diet consists of a variety of grains, including seeds and nuts. They’ll also go after grasses and legumes, including clover and ragweed. You can find and purchase a variety of wild bird seed mixes that are designed specifically for mourning doves and contain species-appropriate seed.

Fruits

Mourning doves will also occasionally eat fruits. In the wild, they’ll patronize fruits that are found in their natural habitats, such as citrus, elderberries, blueberries, cherries, and grape. In your backyard, offering up an occasional bowl of cut-up fruit might be an attractive amenity that helps keep the birds around.

Insects

Insects form a relatively small component of the mourning dove’s wild diet. These game birds occasionally eat worms, bugs, and insect larvae. If you want to help supplement their diet with insects, you can provide a shallow birdbath with a few inches of shallow water. Mourning doves love to bathe and those little puddles of water can attract the insects that’ll provide the doves with a protein-rich meal.

In Conclusion

Mourning doves are a popular species of game birds that can live in urban, suburban, and rural areas. If you’re looking to attract these birds to your backyard, a combination of wild birdseed and fruits can make your yard an attractive stopover for the attracted Mourning doves. Additionally, you can supplement their diet with the insects that’ll show up around a shallow birdbath. By providing the right mix of food, you can make your yard a great place for mourning doves to visit.