Mourning doves are a common backyard bird found throughout much of North America. With their soft gray feathers and melancholy cooing calls, these petite doves generally bring a sense of peace and tranquility to backyards. However, mourning doves have developed a reputation among some bird enthusiasts as aggressive bullies that chase away other birds. In this article, we’ll explore the evidence behind this belief and try to determine if mourning doves truly deserve this negative characterization.
What are mourning doves?
The mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) is a member of the dove family Columbidae. Ranging from 9-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 17-24 inches, these medium-sized doves are slim birds with a small head and a distinctive long, tapered tail. Their plumage is light gray-brown overall with black spots on the wings. Male and female doves are similar in appearance, although the male may be slightly larger.
Mourning doves are found year-round across the lower 48 United States, Mexico, and the southern edge of Canada. They flourish in open habitats like grasslands, agricultural fields, backyard gardens, and urban parks. Mourning doves build flimsy platform nests of twigs, stems, and grasses on the branches of trees, shrubs, or human structures. They lay 1-3 eggs that hatch after a 2-week incubation period. Doves can produce up to 6 broods per year.
These birds get their common name from their soft, plaintive cooing calls that sound like laments. Their scientific name Zenaida macroura comes from the Greek words for “daughter of Zeus” and “large tail”. Mourning doves are an important game species, with millions harvested by hunters each year. They are also wild symbols of peace, love, and the spirit in many cultures.
Are mourning doves territorial?
Many species of birds exhibit territorial behavior, vigorously defending an area against intruders to gain exclusive access to food, water, nesting sites, and other resources. Given their reputation as bullies, are mourning doves highly territorial?
Research suggests mourning doves generally aren’t aggressive about defending a particular territory. However, they can become territorial around the nest site during breeding season. Male doves may confront and chase other males that venture too close to the nest with a female dove present. Even their nests are flimsily built, seemingly placed with minimal concern about defending the location.
Overall though, mourning doves do not vigorously fight other birds to claim areas. They usually remain fairly tolerant of other mourning doves nearby. Their bullying behavior is typically focused on chasing larger birds they perceive as threats, rather than battles over space and resources with their own kind.
Why do mourning doves chase other birds?
If mourning doves aren’t highly territorial, why do they aggressively chase other bird species away? Ornithologists theorize there are several factors that motivate this behavior:
– Protecting nests – As mentioned previously, mourning doves do seem to defend the immediate area around their nest sites when breeding. Chasing other birds that venture too close may help ensure their eggs and vulnerable nestlings are kept safe.
– Access to food – Although not territorial per se, mourning doves don’t appreciate competition at their prime food sources. They are primarily seed eaters, consuming weed seeds, grains, snails, and insects on the ground. Large gatherings of birds make food scarce, prompting mourning doves to try chasing some species away.
– Safety in numbers – Being social birds, mourning doves find power in numbers. As more gather together, the more confident they become about chasing away potential predators and competitors. It takes fewer doves to gang up on one intruding bird than vice versa.
– Protecting mates – Male mourning doves seem to be quite protective of their mates. They will attempt to drive away other birds that get too close, perhaps out of fear that a rival male could attract their dove’s attention.
– Intimidating larger birds – Although small, mourning doves can aggressively bluff and bullly larger bird species that they view as potential predators. Mobbing behavior helps scare dangerous birds away.
What birds do mourning doves chase away?
Mourning doves typically direct their aggression at larger bird species, particularly predators and competition for resources. Some specific birds that mourning doves are known to chase include:
– Hawks
– Crows
– Jays
– Robins
– Catbirds
– Mockingbirds
– Thrashers
– Woodpeckers
– Blackbirds
– Starlings
– Sparrows
– Finches
– Cardinals
Essentially, mourning doves seem to target any bird considerably bigger than themselves. The most frequent dove aggressors are males, especially in spring during breeding season. They will try to peck, wing-strike, dive bomb, and chase birds away. This mobbing harassment is designed to intimidate competitors and drive them out of the mourning dove’s preferred habitat.
Are mourning doves true bullies?
Now that we’ve explored mourning dove behavior, do these birds deserve their reputation as bullies? Or are they simply acting logically in their own interests of survival and reproduction?
Evidence mourning doves are bullies
There are certainly pieces of evidence that mourning doves exhibit antagonistic, bully-like behavior:
– Aggressive chasing – Mourning doves will single-mindedly pursue other birds over considerable distances, often ganging up in groups against a lone bird. This mobbing behavior seems intended to harass and intimidate.
– Persistent attacks – Chasing isn’t limited to just a brief incident. Mourning doves can hassle other birds repeatedly over extended periods of time, even when the intruder is trying to escape.
– No provocation – Sometimes mourning doves attack other birds without any apparent provocation or territorial dispute. They seem to bully just for the sake of it.
– Collateral damage – Mourning doves may unintentionally harm eggs or nestlings of other birds in their zeal to chase adults away, leaving them susceptible to predators.
– Stress on other birds – The constant harassment can disrupt feeding, breeding, and rest for the mourning dove’s targets. This takes a toll and stresses bullied birds.
Evidence mourning doves are not bullies
However, there are also good counterarguments that mourning doves are simply acting normally for songbirds trying to survive, not malicious bullies:
– Protecting themselves – Chasing larger birds reduces competition for resources and eliminates potential predators that threaten mourning doves and their offspring. This is smart self-preservation, not bullying.
– Natural instincts – Dove aggression arises from innate evolutionary tendencies to mob potential threats, guard mates, and avoid predation. These instincts don’t imply thoughtful bullying.
– Equal opportunity – Mourning doves chase away any birds noticeably larger than themselves. They don’t pick certain species to tyrannize and terrorize.
– Limited habitat – As human development shrinks open habitats mourning doves favor, they have concentrated in smaller areas. More birds in close quarters increases perceived competition and chasing.
– Not vindictive – No evidence shows mourning doves attack certain birds out of spite or vengeance. They are reactive, not vindictive or mean-spirited.
The reality: mourning doves are neither saints nor sinners
As with most things in nature, the truth about so-called “bully birds” lies somewhere in the middle. Mourning doves likely don’t consciously bully and intimidate other bird species for enjoyment or satisfaction. Their aggression arises from instinct, not spite.
However, the persistent attacks still amount to antagonistic behavior creating stress for other birds, whether the motivation is deliberate or not. The consequences for the chased birds remain the same.
So mourning doves should not be vilified as sinister bullies plotting harassment and ruin. But we shouldn’t overly romanticize them as purely innocent either. Their hostile behavior can tangibly impact other birds negatively. Overall, mourning doves fall into an ethically grey area typical of much animal behavior.
How birds and birders can coexist with mourning doves
Rather than debating whether mourning doves are bullies or saints, a more constructive approach is finding ways for mourning doves, other birds, and bird enthusiasts to peacefully coexist:
Provide separate feeding stations
Setting up multiple feeders in different parts of the yard allows mourning doves and smaller species like finches to eat without directly competing. Dove-friendly feeders with large perches can be paired with tube feeders accessible only to small birds. Separating food sources reduces aggression over coveted seeds.
Offer separate water sources
Spacing out multiple birdbaths and small water features prevents crowding at one water source. Access to dispersed water again minimizes friction between mourning doves and other visiting birds.
Landscape with dove-preferred trees and shrubs
Planting trees like black cherry and crabapple that mourning doves gravitate towards for food and shelter gives them ideal habitat areas without squeezing out songbirds that prefer different vegetation. Targeted landscaping provides a mosaic of compatible micro-habitats within a yard.
Install nest boxes for cavity nesters
Hanging nest boxes for species like chickadees, titmice, wrens, and bluebirds that nest in cavities provides these birds with safe, protected nest sites inaccessible to ground-nesting mourning doves. Nest boxes mean less competition over natural nesting crevices.
Use deterrents to protect active nests
Visual deterrents like reflector tape, aluminum foil pans, and plastic owls can be strategically placed around the active ground nests of robins, thrushes, sparrows, etc. to discourage mourning doves from approaching during crucial chick-rearing weeks. The mock predators make doves wary of coming near.
Discourage nesting on equipment and structures
Mourning doves like nesting on ledges, gutters, machinery, and vehicles, putting their nests in conflict with human use of these items. Gentle exclusion methods like installing slope adjusters, porcupine wire, or bird netting on preferred nest spots discourages nesting in inconvenient locations.
Provide more open habitat
As development consumes the large open tracts of fields and rural land mourning doves thrive in, they are increasingly relegated to just suburban yards and parks. Providing more protected natural open spaces allows mourning doves to spread out, reducing aggression borne of crowding.
Educate birders about natural behaviors
The birdwatching community should aim to understand the natural motivations behind species like mourning doves and have realistic expectations about animal behavior. Not every inconvenient or aggressive bird interaction amounts to “bullying”. Education promotes tolerance and coexistence.
Conclusion
In summary, the question of whether mourning doves are aggressive bullies or simply defensive and misunderstood is complicated. Their chasing behavior arises from natural instincts, not malevolent motives. But the harassment still negatively affects other birds. By providing separate space and resources for mourning doves and smaller species, everyone can share habitat. Trying to morally classify mourning doves as good or evil oversimplifies animal behaviors. Meeting birds’ needs and recognizing the roots of their actions allows for peaceful coexistence, regardless of labels we assign. With understanding, mourning doves, other birds, and birdwatchers can live in harmony.
| Bird Species | Wingspan | Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | 17-24 inches | 9-13 inches | 4-6 ounces |
| American Robin | 26-30 inches | 8-11 inches | 2.7 ounces |
| Eastern Bluebird | 12-15 inches | 6-8 inches | 1 ounce |
| Black-capped Chickadee | 9-12 inches | 4-6 inches | 0.4 ounces |
This table provides size comparisons between mourning doves and some smaller common backyard bird species they are known to chase. The considerable size advantage mourning doves possess over these birds allows them to be intimidating aggressors.
| Bird Species | Food Sources | Nesting Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Mourning Dove | Seeds, grains, snails, insects on ground | Trees, shrubs, human structures |
| American Robin | Worms, insects, berries | Trees, gutters, ledges |
| Eastern Bluebird | Insects, berries | Cavities |
| Black-capped Chickadee | Insects, seeds | Cavities |
This table shows mourning doves and smaller birds rely on some of the same food sources and nesting habitat. Overlap in resource needs is one factor that brings the species into conflict and competition.
| Deterrent Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Reflector Tape | – Shiny flashing distracts/scares birds – Wind movement adds extra reflection |
– Can fade over time – Needs reapplying every 2-3 months |
| Plastic Owls | – Realistic decoys frighten birds – Can be reused for years |
– Birds may eventually habituate – Can blow away in wind |
| Aluminum Foil Pans | – Sudden reflection startles birds – Very inexpensive |
– Needs frequent replacing – Can blow away in wind |
This table examines pros and cons of different types of visual deterrents that could be used to discourage mourning doves from approaching other birds’ nests.
Key Points
- Mourning doves are known for aggressively chasing larger bird species, especially during nesting season.
- Chasing behavior likely stems from natural instincts to protect resources and offspring, not deliberate bullying.
- However, persistent attacks can still negatively impact other birds.
- Habitat design and resource provisioning can reduce competition and allow peaceful coexistence.
- Understanding motivations and meeting needs prevents classifying mourning doves as “good” or “bad”.
