Doves are known for building simple, flimsy nests in trees, but some species do occasionally nest on the ground. The reasons why doves sometimes opt for ground nesting include lack of suitable trees, seeking shelter, and adapting to local conditions. With appropriate habitat management, ground nesting can be encouraged to support declining dove populations.
Reasons Why Doves Nest on the Ground
There are several reasons why doves sometimes build their nests on the ground rather than up in trees:
- Lack of trees – In areas without many trees or shrubs, like grasslands or deserts, ground nesting may be the only option.
- Shelter – Nests low to the ground or on cliffs can be more protected from predators and poor weather.
- Availability of materials – It’s easier to collect materials like twigs and grasses from the ground.
- Adapting to habitat – Species like the Ground Dove have adapted to grassland habitats.
- Nesting colony – Some doves nest in colonies where lack of space leads some to nest on the ground.
- Elevated perches scarce – Where birds lack elevated perches like trees, utility poles, or ledges, the ground may be used.
Types of Doves Known to Nest on the Ground
The most common doves known to frequently nest on the ground include:
Mourning Doves
Mourning Doves are probably the best known ground nesting doves in North America. They often construct a flimsy nest of twigs, grasses, and pine needles right on the ground in a thick shrub, brush pile, or tree stand.
Eurasian Collared-Doves
Like Mourning Doves, Eurasian Collared-Doves regularly nest on the ground across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Their nests are equally simple and can be placed in various spots from grassy areas to building ledges.
Laughing Doves
These small doves are found widely in sub-Saharan Africa. They nest in very shallow scrapes on the ground in dense low vegetation, often hidden at the base of grass clumps.
Ground Doves
Aptly named, Ground Doves of Central and South America favor ground nesting. Their habitat ranges from grasslands to scrublands to open woodlands.
Zebra Doves
In their native range of Southeast Asia and Australia, these doves often nest on the ground beneath bushes in open grassy areas. They may also nest in low trees.
Turtle Doves
Turtle Doves native to Europe and Asia are primarily tree nesters, but can choose to nest on the ground occasionally, especially where tree cover is scarce and grasslands predominate.
Factors That Encourage Ground Nesting
Doves may choose ground sites for their nests when certain habitat conditions exist:
- Open, grassy areas
- Scattered shrubs and bushes
- Sparse tree cover
- Disturbed, open habitats like fields
- Areas near water sources
- Sandy, gravelly, or bare ground
- Scrublands or deserts with low vegetation
- Grain fields or paddocks with low crop growth
- Nesting colonies where tree space is limited
Ground nesting behavior in doves seems to occur most frequently in landscapes dominated by open grasslands and a lack of extensive forests. The availability of low shrubs, brush, or tall grasses that provide cover from overhead predators is key.
Ground Nest Locations
Doves are resourceful nest builders and will utilize a variety of sites low to the ground or at ground level:
- At the base of shrubs, grass tufts, clumps of vegetation
- Under dense, low bushes and thickets
- Near logs, woodpiles, rocky outcrops
- In open fields of low crops like wheat, barley, hay
- Under trees in open stands and woodland edges
- Along sandy washes and arroyos
- On rock ledges, ground cliff indentations
- In rubble piles, construction sites
- On the ground in pine plantations with bare floor
- In treefalls and gaps in forests
- On bare ground in the open or sheltered by object
- In low evergreen ornamentals, vines, ivy beds
Doves rely on their cryptic coloration to help camouflage ground nests. They may also situate nests near objects for additional shelter and concealment.
Nest Construction
Doves build simple platform nests rather quickly, within 1-2 weeks. Nests on the ground follow the same basic construction but with some variations:
- Loosely built platform of sticks, twigs
- Grasses, stems, pine needles layered as lining
- Shallow depression or cup shape
- Often very thin and flimsy
- Some species incorporate small pebbles
- Size ranges 5-10 inches across, 1-4 inches high
- Lack sturdy foundation of tree nests
- Materials easily gathered from ground
- Both sexes assist in building
- Quick access to nest important
Doves may reuse and repair old nests from previous years, or rapidly build a new basic nest each breeding season.
Ground Nesting Challenges
Nesting on the ground has some inherent risks and challenges for doves:
- Greater vulnerability to predators
- Higher risk of nest flooding in rain
- More easily disturbed by human activities
- Potential for higher nest failure rates
- Exposed to cold weather and elements
- Eggs and young more difficult to conceal
- Less structural stability than tree and bush nests
However, ground nesting is a natural, adaptive behavior in some dove species that know how to select the safest sites possible.
Encouraging Ground Nesting
Several management practices can help provide good ground nesting habitat for doves:
- Maintain clearings with low herbaceous growth
- Allow scrubby, open brush to develop
- Control dense stands of trees and shrubs
- Plant native bushes and shrubs in open patterns
- Keep wooded patches and edges open underneath
- Clear trees but leave stumps and debris
- Limit mowing and brush-hogging
- Create brush piles as nest sites
- Reduce ground disturbance and nest predators
- Provide gravel or bare ground areas
By managing habitat for ground nesting, the needs of declining grassland and open country dove species can be supported.
Conclusion
While doves are strongly associated with flimsy stick nests placed in trees, many species have adapted to utilize ground nesting. Species like Mourning Doves commonly nest right on the bare ground or hidden in vegetation. Ground nesting is generally tied to habitat, being more common where trees are scarce and open plains, scrublands, and grassy areas prevail. With the right habitat management, ground nesting in doves can be encouraged to help support their populations.