Quick Answer
Mourning doves typically lay 2 eggs per clutch and will often lay multiple clutches over the course of a breeding season. They do not lay all their eggs at once, but instead lay eggs in sets of 2, with 1-2 days between each egg being laid. The female will then incubate the eggs for about 2 weeks before they hatch.
Do Mourning Doves Lay All Their Eggs at Once?
Mourning doves, scientifically known as Zenaida macroura, are a common bird species found throughout much of North America. They are known for their soft, mournful cooing calls which give them their name. Mourning doves are prolific breeders and can raise up to 6 broods per year. But do they lay all their eggs at once? The answer is no, mourning doves do not lay all their eggs at once.
Instead, mourning doves lay eggs in small clutches, usually of just 2 eggs. The female dove will lay one egg on the first day, followed by the second egg 1-2 days later. She does not lay all her eggs for the season at once, but instead lays just 2 eggs to incubate at a time. Here is the typical nesting pattern for mourning doves:
- The female lays 2 eggs per clutch, with 1-2 days between each egg being laid
- She incubates the eggs for about 14-15 days
- The eggs hatch one at a time, about 1 day apart
- The dove parents care for the hatchlings for about 15 days until they fledge
- The female may lay another clutch, starting the cycle again
So mourning doves lay their eggs in small clutches of 2 eggs over 1-2 days, incubate them, raise the young, and then repeat the process for multiple clutches throughout the breeding season.
Why Don’t Mourning Doves Lay All Their Eggs at Once?
There are a few key reasons why mourning doves and other bird species lay eggs in clutches rather than all at once:
- Incubation: Laying just a few eggs allows the parent birds to start incubation quickly. This helps keep the eggs viable and develops the embryos.
- Caring for young: Hatching just 2 babies at a time makes it easier for the parents to adequately feed and care for the demanding hatchlings.
- Predation: Losing an entire large clutch to predators would be devastating. Small clutches spread out risks over multiple nests.
- Nutrition: Producing too many eggs at once would be nutritionally taxing on the female. Small clutches allow her to replenish resources between nestings.
By laying eggs in small clutches of just 2 eggs over short intervals, mourning doves and other birds strike the right balance between producing enough young to sustain populations while maximizing their chance of successfully raising healthy offspring.
How Many Clutches Do Mourning Doves Have Per Year?
Mourning doves may raise up to 6 clutches per year. The typical number is closer to 3-4 clutches annually for most mourning dove pairs. Here is an overview of the breeding patterns of mourning doves:
- Breeding season lasts from late February to October
- Each clutch contains 2 eggs laid 1-2 days apart
- The female incubates the eggs for about 14-15 days
- Parents care for hatchlings for 15 days until fledged
- Doves start a new clutch soon after young fledge
- Most pairs will raise 3-6 clutches per season
The number of clutches may vary based on habitat, weather, predation rates, and food availability. Mourning doves living in optimal habitats with abundant food resources are most likely to produce the maximum number of clutches in a season.
Typical Timeline of Mourning Dove Clutches:
Clutch | Laying Period | Incubation Period | Fledgling Period |
---|---|---|---|
Clutch 1 | Early April | Mid April | Late April – Early May |
Clutch 2 | Late April | Mid May | Late May |
Clutch 3 | Late May | Mid June | Late June |
Clutch 4 | Early July | Mid July | Late July – Early August |
Clutch 5 | Late July | Mid August | Late August |
Clutch 6 | Late August | Mid September | Late September – Early October |
As this timeline shows, mourning doves can fit multiple clutches into a single breeding season thanks to their short incubation and fledgling times. The female is able to quickly lay more eggs soon after a previous clutch has left the nest. This allows the mourning dove’s high reproductive capacity.
How Many Eggs Do Mourning Doves Lay in a Year?
The potential number of eggs a mourning dove pair can lay in a year depends on how many clutches they produce. With each clutch containing 2 eggs, a typical breeding pair that has 3-4 clutches per season will lay 6-8 eggs annually. However, mourning doves are capable of laying many more eggs in ideal conditions.
Here is an overview of how many eggs mourning doves may lay based on the number of clutches:
- 1 clutch: 2 eggs
- 2 clutches: 4 eggs
- 3 clutches (typical): 6 eggs
- 4 clutches: 8 eggs
- 5 clutches: 10 eggs
- 6 clutches (max): 12 eggs
With each clutch containing 2 eggs, the potential number ranges from just 2 eggs for a single clutch up to a maximum of 12 eggs for a highly productive pair that has 6 clutches in a season. However, the actual number can vary significantly based on habitat, weather, predators, and other factors.
Average Number of Eggs Laid by Mourning Doves Per Year:
Location | Average # Clutches | Average # Eggs |
---|---|---|
Northern Range | 3 | 6 |
Southern Range | 4-5 | 8-10 |
Throughout Range | 3-4 | 6-8 |
In most areas across their range, mourning dove pairs average 3-4 clutches and 6-8 eggs per year. Mourning doves in southern areas tend to produce more clutches and eggs thanks to the longer breeding season.
Do Both Parents Incubate and Care for the Eggs?
Yes, both male and female mourning doves participate in incubating the eggs and caring for hatchlings. Here are the typical roles of each parent:
- Female: Builds nest, lays eggs, incubates at night
- Male: Stands guard, incubates during day, helps feed young
The female mourning dove constructs a flimsy platform nest from twigs, grasses, and pine needles. She lays 2 eggs then incubates them, taking the night shift. The male dove stands guard nearby and takes over incubation duties during the day.
Both parents also supply crop milk to feed the hatchlings. Crop milk is a nutritious secretion produced in the crop organ of doves and pigeons. The parents regurgitate this milk to feed the squabs. Both male and female mournng doves work together to raise their young.
Typical Timeline of Shared Mourning Dove Parental Care:
Stage | Female’s Role | Male’s Role |
---|---|---|
Egg laying | Lay 2 eggs over 1-2 days | Stand guard nearby |
Incubation | Incubate at night | Incubate during day |
Hatching | Brood hatchlings | Stand guard, assist |
Care for young | Feed crop milk | Feed crop milk |
Both male and female mourning doves work together to incubate eggs and raise hatchlings. Their partnership is essential to successfully reproduce and rear young.
How Long Do Mourning Doves Live? What Limits Their Lifespan?
Mourning doves can live surprisingly long lives for small birds. However, most will not achieve the maximum lifespan due to high mortality rates from predators and disease.
- Maximum lifespan: over 15 years in captivity
- Average lifespan: 1-5 years in the wild
The record for longest living mourning dove was over 30 years in captivity. However, doves in the wild face threats that dramatically shorten their lifespan to just a few years on average.
Here are some of the main factors that limit mourning dove lifespan in natural conditions:
- Predators – Hawks, falcons, cats, raccoons, snakes, and many other predators prey on adult doves and eggs.
- Disease – Parasites and diseases like pox, Trichomoniasis, and intestinal worms can weaken or kill doves.
- Accidents – Collisions with windows, cars, or other objects kill many each year.
- Shooting – Legal hunting takes a toll on populations particularly in migratory areas.
- Harsh weather – Blizzards, ice storms, heat waves, and other extreme weather can kill doves.
While mourning doves may potentially live over 15 years, very few survive more than a year or two in the wild. Their high reproduction helps counteract their naturally short lifespans.
How Many Eggs Do Mourning Doves Lay Per Clutch?
The typical mourning dove clutch size is just 2 eggs. Very rarely, a female may lay 3 or even 4 eggs in a clutch, but 2 eggs is the norm.
Here are some key facts about mourning dove clutch size:
- Typical clutch size: 2 eggs
- Ranges from 1 to 4 eggs
- 2 whitish or pale pink eggs is most common
- Lays eggs on successive days
- Incubates eggs for about 2 weeks
Sticking to small clutches of just 2 eggs allows mourning doves to maximize their reproduction efforts. The female can dedicate herself fully to incubating and raising just a couple of hatchlings at a time.
Typical Contents of a Mourning Dove Clutch:
Day 1 | Day 2 |
---|---|
Egg #1 | Egg #2 |
A mourning dove clutch will almost always contain just 2 small white or pinkish eggs laid on successive days. These eggs will hatch one at a time about 2 weeks later.
How Long Does it Take Mourning Doves to Form Pairs and Breed?
Mourning doves may form pairs and start breeding quickly in spring. Here is an overview of their typical breeding timeline:
- Form pairs in late winter or early spring
- Males court females by nest cooing and bowing
- Nest building begins 1-2 weeks before egg laying
- First clutch initiated in late February to early April
- Breeding continues into fall, ending by October
The urgency of the short breeding season causes mourning doves to start nesting activities as soon as weather allows. Females may lay their first clutch just a week or two after pairing up in spring.
Mourning doves originating from more southerly regions may start even earlier. Those migrating northwards arrive on the breeding grounds already paired and ready to breed.
Timeline of Mourning Dove Breeding Season:
Date | Activity |
---|---|
Late January | Pairs form |
February | Courtship |
March | Nest building |
April – September | Egg laying and rearing young |
October | Nesting tapers off |
In just a matter of weeks, mourning doves can go from pairing up to producing their first clutch. Their rapid breeding helps compensate for short lifespans and raise multiple broods each season.
Conclusion
In summary, mourning doves are prolific breeders, but do not lay all their eggs at once. Key facts about mourning dove nesting include:
- Lay eggs in clutches of 2
- Have 1-2 days between eggs in a clutch
- Incubate eggs for 14-15 days before hatching
- Often raise 3-6 clutches per breeding season
- Total eggs per season ranges from 2-12
- Parents share incubation and feeding of young
- Short lifespan due to high predation and disease
By laying eggs in small clutches over intervals, mourning doves are able to maximize their high reproductive potential and raise young quickly and efficiently.