Doves are a common symbol of love, faithfulness, and lasting bonds. Their cooing calls and graceful flight convey a romantic ideal of monogamy. But is this perception accurate? Do mating doves actually stay together for life?
The Mating Habits of Doves
There are over 300 species in the dove family, Columbidae. Their mating behaviors and tendencies vary across the different species. However, some general patterns emerge:
- Doves typically form monogamous pair bonds for a breeding season. During this time, they will construct a nest together, mate, and raise offspring.
- In most dove species, the male will initiate courtship by selecting a nesting site and then performing a mating dance to attract a female.
- Once paired, doves participate in billing (touching beaks), preening each other’s feathers, and frequent copulations to solidify the bond.
- Both parents share nesting and feeding responsibilities. The female will lay a clutch of 1-3 eggs which they incubate in shifts.
- Doves are excellent and attentive parents. Both the male and female feed their young regurgitated “crop milk” and protect the nest from predators.
This pattern of monogamy occurs for each breeding season. However, dove pairs do not necessarily stay together year-round or mate for life.
Seasonal Monogamy
The tendency to form a new pair bond each breeding season is known as serial monogamy or seasonal monogamy. This occurs commonly in various bird species, including doves.
Some reasons why lifelong monogamy may not suit doves and other birds include:
- Their breeding seasons are often clearly defined according to seasonal changes. Outside of that time, there are less incentives to maintain the pair bond.
- Both males and females can potentially increase their reproductive success by having multiple mates across breeding seasons.
- Nesting in the same place repeatedly increases the risk of parasite and predator attacks.
- Environmental factors like food availability and weather fluctuations may impact their ability to stay together long term.
For these reasons, serial monogamy is likely an adaptive reproductive strategy for doves rather than mating for life.
Exceptions to the Rule
However, there are some dove species that may maintain long-term bonds:
- Mourning doves – Studies show high mate fidelity in this common North American species. Many pairs reunite year after year at the same nesting site.
- Eurasian collared-doves – Originating from Asia, these doves are known for settling down in year-round territories with the same mate.
- Turtle doves – Native to Europe and Asia, they are symbolic of enduring love. Some pairs may remain together for multiple breeding seasons.
So while seasonal monogamy is the norm, lifelong bonds may occur in some dove species and populations.
Behaviors After Mating Season
What happens to dove pairs after a breeding season ends depends on the species:
Separation
In many cases, mated doves will simply part ways once breeding activities wrap up. For example:
- Male and female mourning doves may overwinter in different areas after raising their young together.
- Eurasian collared-doves are less territorial outside of the breeding season and gather in large mixed flocks.
- Mated zebra doves often split up and join larger foraging groups when not nesting.
Doves that separate after breeding may reunite with their former mate or find a new partner in the future.
Staying Together
In some instances, dove pairs may continue associating after mating:
- Mourning doves symbolize love partially because some pairs remain close even outside of breeding season.
- Rock doves are known to produce multiple broods in a single season. Pairs tending to the young may stay together for an extended time.
- Crowned pigeons form lifetime bonds and inhabit the same territory year-round.
Staying together enables the parents to continually cooperate in raising and protecting offspring. Lifelong bonds also allow pairs to reunite easily at familiar nesting sites.
Joint Winter Flocks
Another common pattern is for mated doves to join larger communal flocks in winter. While not always side-by-side, they remain in the same general area. Examples include:
- Eurasian collared-doves gathering in large, mixed flocks after breeding season
- Mourning doves migrating in loose winter flocks of familiar birds
- Ring-necked doves forming huge winter roosts numbering thousands of birds
Forming winter flocks provides safety in numbers and communal foraging benefits. Former mates may reconvene when the next breeding season starts.
Conclusion
In summary, most dove species demonstrate seasonal monogamy – forming temporary pair bonds during each breeding season. These bonds dissipate after mating and raising young. However, some doves show long-term mate fidelity, staying close or reuniting year after year. Lifelong pairing does occur in certain dove species, but serial monogamy appears to be the most common reproductive strategy.
So while not strictly “until death do us part,” the loyal breeding season bonds of doves make them worthy symbols of devoted love.
