Doves are gentle, graceful birds that can be found in many backyards. With their soft coos and iridescent feathers, doves have endeared themselves to bird lovers across the world. When it comes to feeding doves, most people want to attract these birds to their yard by offering them their favorite foods. However, even though doves aren’t picky eaters, there are some bird foods that they simply don’t like. Knowing what foods to avoid can help ensure your dove feeder doesn’t sit ignored.
Do Doves Have Food Preferences?
Doves are members of the pigeon family, Columbidae, along with pigeons and doves. There are over 300 species of doves, and they can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Doves tend to have an omnivorous diet, feeding on seeds, fruits, greens, and occasionally insects. This varied palate means they are adaptable and not overly picky about what goes into their diet.
However, even though doves aren’t too choosy, they do have preferences when it comes to bird food. Their favorites tend to be small seeds and grains rather than mixes with nuts, dried fruit, etc. Doves also like having a good amount of grit available to help them digest their food. Paying attention to the types of food doves gravitate towards in your yard will help you discern what they like best.
What Foods Do Doves Dislike?
While doves enjoy small seeds and grains, there are some bird foods they are known to avoid or dislike:
- Large seeds – Doves have small beaks suited for eating petite seeds. Large seeds like peanuts, sunflower seeds, etc. are difficult for them to crack open and eat.
- Dry mixes with fruit/nuts – Doves tend to avoid dried fruits, nuts, corn, and other large bits in mixed bird food.
- Sweet mixes – Doves do not have much of a sweet tooth, so they bypass mixes with lots of sugary fruits, nuts, or berries.
- Fatty/oily foods – High fat seeds like safflower or suet-rich mixes are shunned in favor of low fat options.
- Millet – Most doves do not show interest in eating millet.
- Mealworms/live insects – While doves occasionally eat insects, they do not care for dried or live mealworms offered in bird food.
Knowing what foods doves prefer to avoid can prevent you from wasting money on bird food they will not eat. Stick to small seeds and grains to increase the chance your dove feeder gets visited.
Doves’ Favorite Foods
To better understand what not to offer, it helps to know what doves like best. Here are some of the top foods favored by doves:
Seeds
Doves have a strong preference for small, oil-free seeds that are easy to hull and digest. Good options include:
- Milo
- Wheat
- Sorghum
- Oats
- Rapeseed
- Nyjer
- Flax
- Sesame
- Cracked corn
- Barley
- Rice
- Canary grass
- Hemp
- Mustard
Grains
Whole grains are healthier than processed seeds. Good grain choices include:
- Whole corn
- Wheat berries
- Milo
- Barley
- Oats
- Rice
- Rye
- Quinoa
Greens
Doves enjoy fresh greens as part of their diet. Offer them:
- Romaine lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Chard
- Fresh sprouts
Fruit
While dried fruit often deters doves, they like small pieces of fresh fruits such as:
- Berries
- Melon
- Apple
- Banana
- Grapes
- Peach
Offering dove-friendly seeds, grains, greens, and bits of fruit will guarantee your feathered friends keep coming back.
Healthiest Options for Doves
High Quality Seeds and Grains
For the healthiest diet, look for the following qualities in seeds and grains:
- Whole – Whole seeds and grains have more nutritional value than cracked, cut, or processed.
- Fresh – Purchase seeds and grains in quantities that will be used up quickly to prevent spoiling.
- Organic – Organic options are grown without pesticides or chemicals.
- Non-GMO – GMO foods may have adverse health effects.
- High Fiber – Doves benefit from high fiber options like whole wheat, oats, and barley.
Choosing the healthiest varieties of seeds and grains gives doves maximum nutrition from their favorite foods.
Natural Greens and Fruits
The healthiest fresh fruits and greens for doves are:
- Organic – Avoid produce grown with pesticides.
- Unprocessed – Don’t offer deli meats, sugary jellies, etc.
- Chopped – Cut fruits/greens into tiny pieces for easy eating.
- Variety – Rotate different fresh foods to give diverse nutrients.
- Rinsed – Wash off dirt and chemicals from store-bought greens.
Offering washed, organic, chopped produce ensures doves get wholesome fruits and veggies.
Clean Water
Doves should always have access to clean, fresh water. Change water daily and scrub feeders/bird baths regularly to prevent dangerous mold and bacteria. Providing fresh water is one of the easiest ways to keep doves healthy.
Meeting Doves’ Nutritional Needs
Doves have some specific nutritional requirements to keep them healthy. Make sure your dove’s diet includes:
Protein
Protein aids egg and feather production and keeps doves strong. Good sources include:
- Peas
- Wheat
- Corn
- Rice
- Oats
- Milo
- Quinoa
Calcium
Calcium gives doves strong bones and eggshells. Offer:
- Collard greens
- Kale
- Dandelion greens
- Bok choy
- Calcium supplements
Fiber
Fiber aids digestion and prevents crop impactions. Choose:
- Whole grains
- Greens
- Chopped fruit
- Berries
Phytonutrients
Phytonutrients boost immunity and health. Sources include:
- Corn
- Oats
- Barley
- Rice
- Wheat
- Flax
- Peas
Vitamin A
For vision, immunity, and growth. Offer:
- Sweet potato
- Carrots
- Dark greens
- Red peppers
- Squash
Choosing foods rich in important nutrients will keep doves in peak health. Supplements can fill any dietary gaps.
Transitioning Doves to New Foods
To successfully shift a dove’s diet, follow these tips:
Gradual Change
Swap out 25% of the dove’s diet every week until the transition is complete. Abrupt changes can shock the digestive system.
Patience
It may take time, even months, for a dove to warm up to new foods. Persistence pays off.
Separate Dishes
Place new items in a different dish than familiar foods so the dove can distinguish them.
Mix With Favorites
Blend in small amounts of new foods with existing favorites to encourage sampling.
Remove Waste
Promptly remove uneaten fresh foods so they don’t spoil and turn the dove off.
Monitor Weight
Weigh regularly to ensure the dove maintains a healthy weight as its diet changes.
Change One Food at a Time
Vary one food source every few weeks rather than doing a complete overhaul all at once.
With time and patience, a dove can transition to healthier foods it may initially ignore or avoid.
Common Dove Health Issues Related to Diet
Two common health problems doves encounter than can be diet-related are:
Crop Stasis/Impaction
When food gets stuck in a dove’s crop and won’t digest, crop stasis occurs. This can lead to a serious crop impaction if not addressed. Causes include:
- Too much dry food without enough water
- Eating coarse hulls and fibers
- Scarfing down food too quickly
- Lack of greens, fruits, and veggies
- Dehydration
Offering juicy fruits and veggies in addition to dry seeds and grains helps prevent crop problems. Make sure fresh water is always available.
Obesity
Doves can become overweight from excess starchy seeds and lack of exercise. Results include:
- Arthritis
- Heart and lung disease
- Liver disease
- Egg binding
- Reduced lifespan
Limit calorie-dense seeds and carbs. Increase exercise opportunities and feed nutrient-rich greens.
Careful attention to diet and nutrition is key to avoiding these hazards and keeping doves fit.
Common Dove Feeder Mistakes
Even with good intentions, it’s easy to make mistakes setting up feeders that deter doves. Avoid these pitfalls:
Wrong Location
Pick a quiet spot protected from predators and elements. Near trees or shrubs is ideal.
Too High
Don’t mount feeders more than 5 feet high or doves may not see or reach them. Stay low.
Too Small
Use feeders with ample room so multiple doves can perch and eat at once.
Messy Seed Mixes
Mixed bird seed with filler doves won’t eat can make a mess beneath feeders they won’t visit.
Not Bird Friendly
Steer clear of feeders with small perches, sharp points, or materials birds can get stuck in.
Hard to Clean
Feeders should come apart easily for thorough cleaning to prevent mold and bacteria.
With a dove preferred feeder set up properly, you can provide healthy foods doves will eagerly eat up.
Conclusion
While doves are unfussy diners, they do turn up their beaks at certain bird foods. By understanding doves’ tastes and nutritional needs, you can offer them a menu of their favorite healthy seeds, grains, greens, fruits, and clean water. Pay attention to what doves in your yard prefer and avoid to prevent wasting food and money on things they just don’t like. Dove feeding does take some trial and error, but the reward of attracting these graceful wild birds is worth it. Just be sure to avoid common feeder mistakes, transition new foods slowly, and watch for signs of diet-related illness. With proper nutrition and feeding, your yard is sure to become a dove dining hot spot!
