Mourning doves are a common backyard bird found throughout North America. With their soft coos and gentle nature, they may seem like docile creatures. However, mourning doves can exhibit aggressive behaviors in certain situations, particularly when defending their nests and young.
In the opening paragraphs, it is important to provide quick answers to key questions readers may have:
– Do mourning doves get aggressive? Yes, mourning doves can become aggressive in some situations, such as when defending their territory or protecting their nest. However, they are generally placid birds.
– When do mourning doves get aggressive? Mourning doves may show aggression during the breeding season when defending nests or protecting hatchlings. Males can be aggressive when competing for mates.
– Why do mourning doves get aggressive? The main reasons mourning doves become aggressive are to defend and protect their nesting areas and young. Their hormones and instincts drive them to ensure the survival of their offspring.
– How aggressive do mourning doves get? Mourning dove aggression is generally limited to threatening displays. Physical attacks are rare. Their aggression is moderate compared to other bird species.
Nesting Behavior
Mourning doves become most aggressive when defending nesting areas. They are highly territorial during the breeding season. A mourning dove couple will often chase away other birds that get too close to their nest.
Nest Defense
Male mourning doves are particularly protective of nesting sites. They will confront intruders with threatening displays. A male dove may:
– Fluff up his feathers to appear larger
– Spread and flap his wings
– Dart at intruders
– Peck or bite
– Make aggressive cooing sounds
These actions are meant to scare away the perceived threat. Physical attacks are rare. Mourning doves do not have strong feet or claws for fighting. Their aggressive displays are often enough to drive intruders away.
Hatchling Protection
Once eggs hatch, mourning doves become even more defensive. They respond ferociously to any potential dangers to their hatchlings.
Both mourning dove parents share brooding and feeding duties. They take turns incubating eggs then caring for hatchlings. Parents may swoop at humans, pets, or predators that get too close to a nest with young.
This aggressive reaction is designed to distract threats away from the vulnerable babies. However, mourning doves will generally not make physical contact. They depend on their bluffing displays to protect their offspring.
Territorial Behavior
Mourning doves are highly territorial during mating season. Males will aggressively defend areas to attract a mate and guard nesting sites.
Displaying for Mates
Male mourning doves put on elaborate displays to attract females in the spring. A male will select an area like a tree branch or rooftop as his territory.
He will then perform an aggressive flying display:
– Flies up at a steep angle
– Climbs 60 feet or more
– Flaps wings rapidly at peak
– Glides down with wings spread wide
This aerial show advertises the male’s fitness. It also demonstrates he can protect a nesting territory from intruders.
Other males are chased away so one male can dominate a territory to attract a mate. Aggressive cooing and charging occurs until one male emerges victorious. Serious fights are uncommon though due to the mourning dove’s gentle nature.
Guarding the Nest
Once a pair forms, the male continues defending the nesting area from intruders. Both parents will chase away other mourning doves or birds encroaching on their territory.
Nest defense is vital for mourning doves. They nest on the ground or in low bushes where many predators like cats, raccoons, and snakes can access eggs and hatchlings. Aggressive displays help mourning doves protect vulnerable nests.
Food Competition
At bird feeders and fertile feeding grounds, mourning doves may become aggressive over food resources and prime perching spots.
Feeders
When large groups of mourning doves congregate at bird feeders, squabbles can occur. Doves may peck, displace, or fly at each other to gain access to feeder perches and food.
Aggression increases during winter when natural food is scarce. Mourning doves will more readily chase away other individuals at feeders when hungry.
They are primarily aggressive to other mourning doves over feeder access. However, they may also display to blue jays, woodpeckers, and other species to drive them away from prime spots.
Fruit Trees
In late summer and fall, ripe fruits like cherries and berries become key food sources. Mourning doves will aggressively compete for access to fruiting trees and bushes.
Areas with plentiful fruit produce bumper crops of mourning doves. Aggression levels tend to be higher as the birds jockey for positions to feed. Prime perching spots where fruits can easily be reached are especially valued.
Despite frictions, mourning doves do not seriously injure or kill each other over food. Aggression is limited to posturing and displays.
Human Interactions
Mourning doves generally tolerate humans but may show aggression when nests or young are threatened. However, attacks on people are extremely rare.
Nest Disturbance
If a person comes too close to a mourning dove nest, the parents may attempt to draw them away with bluffing displays. For example, an adult dove may:
– Flutter on the ground, feigning injury
– Fluff up and spread wings
– Dart at the intruder
This reaction is designed to lure potential predators away by making the adult seem vulnerable. The doves are trying to protect eggs or hatchlings hidden nearby.
Actual Attacks
Though mourning doves seldom make physical contact, occasional attacks on humans do occur. An adult mourning dove may peck or buffet its wings at someone disturbing a nest.
Usually, injuries are minor. At most, a mourning dove might inflict a superficial scratch or bruise. Serious injuries involving mourning doves are extremely rare.
Risk Reduction
To avoid provoking a nesting mourning dove, take precautions like:
– Watch for nests on the ground or in shrubs during spring and summer
– Detour around known nests
– Never touch eggs, hatchlings, or adult doves
– Vacate area if dove seems agitated
Leaving nesting mourning doves alone and keeping your distance will prevent almost any aggression issues.
Conclusion
Mourning doves are one of the most placid, gentle bird species. However, they will become aggressive when necessary to protect and provide for their offspring. Nest defense and territorial displays are key times when mourning doves exhibit more assertive behaviors.
Understanding the contexts for mourning dove aggression allows people to peacefully coexist with these birds. Avoiding nests during breeding season and letting doves sort out their own disputes are simple ways to limit any conflicts. With appropriate space and caution around nest sites, mourning doves present little aggression risk. Their mellow temperament shines through in most human interactions.
