Yes, there are several species of doves that can be found in Phoenix, Arizona. The most common species is the mourning dove, which is a year-round resident in the Phoenix area. Other dove species like the Inca dove and white-winged dove are also present but less abundant.
Doves are a common sight in Phoenix neighborhoods, parks, and desert areas. Their cooing calls are a familiar sound during the day. Doves have adapted well to living in urban and suburban environments in Phoenix and other Southwestern cities.
Common Species of Doves in Phoenix
Mourning Dove
The mourning dove is the most widespread and common species of dove found in Phoenix. Mourning doves have a light gray-brown body with black spots on the wings. Their tail is long and pointed.
Mourning doves breed in spring and summer and may raise up to 6 broods per year. They build a flimsy nest of twigs, leaves, and grasses on a tree branch or shrub. The female lays 2 white eggs which hatch after about 2 weeks.
Mourning doves eat seeds, fruits, and grains. They frequent backyards to feed on millet, sunflower seeds, and grains scattered for other birds. They also forage on the ground and eat some insects.
The mourning dove gets its name from its mournful cooing call which is most often heard in spring and summer. The male’s call is a soft “cooOOoo-coo-coo-coo”. Mourning doves can be heard calling throughout the day but are especially vocal at dawn and dusk.
Inca Dove
The Inca dove is the second most common dove species found in the Phoenix area. They are smaller than mourning doves and slimmer in profile.
Inca doves have pale gray-brown plumage with black-bordered white spots on the wings. The tail is longer and more pointed than the mourning dove’s. The male and female Inca dove look alike.
Inca doves breed prolifically in spring and summer and may raise up to 12 broods per year. Nests are flimsy platforms of twigs and stems placed in trees or cacti.
Inca doves eat seeds, fruits, and some insects. They forage on the ground but also visit feeders for seeds. Their call is a soft repetitive cooing that speeds up toward the end.
Originally native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, Inca doves have adapted well to city habitats in Phoenix and can be found in both suburban and urban areas. They are common around homes, parks and agricultural areas.
White-winged Dove
White-winged doves are larger than the other doves in Phoenix, about the size of a rock pigeon. Adults have gray-brown upperparts and a gray throat and breast. The wings have large white patches which are visible in flight.
White-winged doves breed in spring and may raise up to 4 broods per year. The nest is a platform of twigs built high in a tree. The female lays 2 white eggs.
These doves frequent riparian areas along desert washes and urban parks with large trees. They visit backyard feeding stations for seeds or grain scattered on the ground. White-winged doves have a loud, mournful cooing which speeds up toward the end.
Populations of white-winged doves have increased in Arizona in recent decades as the birds have expanded their range. They are still somewhat less common in the Phoenix area than mourning doves and Inca doves.
Dove Habits and Behavior
Diet
All dove species are primarily granivorous, meaning they eat seeds as the major portion of their diet. The seeds are usually from grasses, herbs, and grains but may also include some buds and berries.
Doves have slender, pointed bills adapted for picking up seeds and grains. They swallow seeds whole and grind them in their muscular gizzard.
Doves supplement their seed diet with fruits such as berries, some greens, and occasionally insects like ants and beetles. They are frequent visitors to backyard bird feeders containing seeds such as millet and sunflower seeds. They will also eat grain scattered on the ground.
Some behaviors doves exhibit when feeding include:
– Foraging on the ground by walking and picking up food
– Perching on feeders and quickly eating small seeds
– Swiftly flying to the ground, grabbing food, and returning to a perch
– Sitting still and watching for predators while eating
– Moderate squabbling may occur between doves when feeding in groups
Nesting
Doves are prolific nest builders and may raise up to 12 broods per year in the case of Inca doves. Mourning doves and white-winged doves have fewer broods of 2-6 per season.
Doves build simple platform nests out of twigs, stems, leaves, and grasses. The nests are flimsy and loose with little structural support. They may be located in trees, shrubs, or cacti not too far off the ground.
Both parents participate in selecting the nest site, building the nest, incubating eggs, and feeding nestlings. Doves may reused the same nest for subsequent broods or build a new nest nearby.
The white eggs hatch after about 2 weeks. Both parents feed the nestlings with regurgitated “crop milk”, a nutrition-rich substance produced in their crop organ. Fledglings leave the nest at about 2 weeks old but remain close by to beg for food as they learn to forage on their own.
Roosting and Sleeping
Doves often congregate in large groups when roosting for the night. Favorite spots include dense trees and shrubs that provide cover and shelter. Some agricultural areas may see thousands of doves gathering at night.
As darkness falls, mourning doves give their last coos and settle down for the night. Doves sit upright on their perches and tuck their head back into their body. Their eyes close halfway with sleep.
If disturbed, doves may re-open their eyes and become alert again. But they will soon settle back down and resume their light slumber. Doves in a group will take turns sleeping and keeping watch for predators.
Doves exhibit slight shivering motions to maintain body heat when sleeping. On cold desert nights, large dove roosts may benefit from combined body heat. The birds shuffle positions and huddle together closely.
Doves typically wake up well before sunrise. Their cooing calls begin as it starts to become light. After preening and stretching a bit, the doves will fly off to start feeding again.
Attracting Doves to Your Yard
You can attract doves to your yard by providing some of their key habitat needs:
Food and Water
Plant trees and shrubs that produce small fruits and seeds that doves like to eat. Good choices include mulberry, hackberry, juniper, pine, and flowering plants like sunflowers. Include native desert trees like palo verde, mesquite, and ironwood.
Add dove-friendly feeders to supply seeds they enjoy such as millet, safflower, cracked corn, sunflower chips, and mixed grains. Use feeders with larger perches to accommodate doves.
Platform tray feeders work well for feeding doves on the ground. Scatter seed directly on the ground in open dirt areas.
Ensure fresh water is available in a birdbath, fountain, or ground dish. Change water daily and keep the water at a shallow depth. Position baths away from bushes where predators may hide.
Nesting Sites
Allow stands of trees, shrubs, and cacti to grow densely to provide cover and nesting sites. Favor native plants when possible. Good ones include mesquite, palo verde, ironwood, acacia, jojoba, and prickly pear cactus.
Resist excessive pruning and trimming of vegetation that could take away nesting habitat. However leave some open areas so doves can forage easily on the ground.
You can also add nesting boxes specifically made for doves. Ensure they are safely out of reach from cats and other predators.
Shelter
Doves appreciate brush piles, rock piles, and other sheltered spots to duck under when alarmed. Keep some areas of dense overgrown vegetation they can retreat to quickly.
Roosting boxes can provide overnight shelter for doves during the colder months. They should be placed high up, hidden from view, and with a few small perches inside. The entry hole should be 11⁄2 to 2 inches wide to admit doves.
Interesting Facts About Doves
Here are some interesting facts about doves in Phoenix and elsewhere:
– Mourning doves get their name from the mournful sounding coos the males make to attract females. Their call sounds like “cooOOoo-coo-coo-coo”.
– Doves have strong homing abilities and mate for life. A mourning dove couple may stay together across multiple breeding seasons.
– Doves can fly at speeds up to 55 mph. Their pointed wing shape gives them rapid and agile flight.
– Inca doves got their name from their small size and delicate nature, which reminded early observers of Inca finches from South America.
– White-winged doves sunbathe by sitting on the ground and spreading one wing at a time upward to expose the undersides.
– Doves are one of the few bird species that can sip surface water without lifting their head. Their mouth chemistry allows this.
– Nestling and fledgling doves are called squabs. Both parents feed the squabs with crop milk, a creamy substance rich in fat and protein.
– Small soft feathers on a dove’s posterior allow it to incubate eggs without crushing them. The feathers provide insulation and padding.
– Doves have strong symbolic meaning in many cultures. They can symbolize peace, fidelity, motherhood, and spirit.
Conclusion
The mourning dove, Inca dove, and white-winged dove are the most common species found among Phoenix neighborhoods. Their soft cooing calls are a familiar background sound during the day.
Doves have adapted well to urban environments and are regular backyard visitors. You can encourage doves by planting native trees and shrubs for food and nesting. Also provide open foraging space, ground trays or feeders with small seeds, and a water source.
Observing doves and their pleasing coos and graceful flight can add to the enjoyment of your backyard. Their harmonious presence offers a symbolic message of peace amidst city life. Doves gracefully remind us of nature’s beauty.