Mourning doves are a common bird species found throughout North America. They are known for their soft, mournful cooing calls, which are most frequently heard in spring and summer during the breeding season.
Mourning doves build flimsy nests out of twigs, grass, and sometimes pine needles. The female lays two white eggs in the nest and incubates them for about two weeks before they hatch. Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs.
Sometimes, mourning dove eggs are abandoned by the parents before they hatch. There are a few reasons why this might occur:
Predation
One of the most common reasons for abandonment is predation. Mourning dove nests are vulnerable to predators like cats, raccoons, snakes, crows, jays, squirrels, and rodents. If a predator disturbs the nest, the parents may abandon the eggs. Even if the eggs survive the initial predation attempt, the parents may not return to the compromised nest.
Weather
Bad weather like heavy rain, wind, hail, or drought conditions could force the parents to abandon the eggs. The exposed nests don’t provide much protection from the elements. If the parents sense the weather threats, they may abandon the eggs to preserve their own survival.
Disturbance
Excessive noise, light, or other disruptions near the nest may cause the mourning doves to leave. Loud construction, vehicles, machinery, or even repeated human presence can stress the birds and drive them away. Once they leave, they likely won’t return.
Infertile Eggs
Sometimes eggs are abandoned because they are infertile and won’t hatch. Mourning doves may lay infertile eggs due to the health of the parents, inbreeding, or improper mating. If the parents sense the eggs are duds, they may leave to look for a better nesting spot.
Insufficient Resources
In rare cases, mourning doves may abandon eggs due to lack of food, water, or proper nesting sites. If resources are scarce, the parents may be unable to properly care for the eggs. Leaving the eggs improves their chances of breeding again when conditions improve.
How often do mourning doves abandon their eggs?
Mourning doves have a relatively high rate of egg abandonment compared to other bird species. Estimates vary, but some sources suggest 10-15% or more of mourning dove nests are abandoned before hatching.
The actual rate of abandonment depends on various environmental factors in a given area. Locations with more predators, harsher weather, more human disturbance, and scarce resources will see higher levels of abandonment. Ideal mourning dove habitat tends to have abandonment rates on the lower end.
In general, mourning doves have evolved to deal with a certain level of abandonment. Their high egg-laying rate helps offset losses. The parents can simply move to a new nesting site and try again if they lose a clutch. Leaving the eggs improves the chance they’ll successfully raise young later in the season.
Do mourning doves ever return to abandoned eggs?
If mourning doves abandon their eggs, they do not typically return to that same nest. Once they have left the eggs, the parents seem to write off that particular breeding attempt and don’t come back.
There are a few reasons why mourning doves don’t return to abandoned eggs:
The eggs have likely died
Depending on temperature, the embryos inside the eggs will die within a few days without incubation. If the doves wait too long, returning would be pointless because the eggs are no longer viable.
The nest is compromised
Whatever caused the doves to abandon the nest originally, like weather or predators, has likely not improved. The parents have no motivation to return to a compromised nest.
Mourning doves readily re-nest
It is more efficient for mourning doves to move on and build a new nest than try to salvage abandoned eggs. They have short breeding seasons and often raise multiple broods, so re-nesting quickly improves their reproductive success.
The parents have given up on that breeding attempt
Ultimately, mourning doves seem to have an internal switch where they decide to abandon a particular breeding attempt. Even if the original threat is gone, they do not return to eggs they have clearly abandoned.
What happens to abandoned mourning dove eggs?
When mourning dove parents abandon their eggs, the eggs are left exposed in the flimsy nest. This leaves them vulnerable to predators:
Predators may eat the eggs
Many animals like crows, jays, squirrels, snakes, rodents, and cats are opportunistic egg eaters. If they find an unattended mourning dove nest, they may eat the eggs. The protein-rich eggs are a nutritious meal.
Weather may destroy the eggs
Without an incubating parent, the eggs are susceptible to temperature extremes, rain, wind, and other weather. Hot sun can overheat the eggs and kill the embryos. Freezing temperatures can also damage the eggs. Prolonged exposure to wind and rain can knock eggs out of the nest.
The eggs may rot if they aren’t eaten or destroyed
Abandoned eggs that escape predators and weather will eventually decompose. Unincubated dove eggs can go into an early rotting process within a few days in warm weather. The eggs turn foul-smelling as bacteria and fungi break down the organic matter.
Some abandoned eggs may survive and hatch
Rarely, if temperatures remain moderate, an abandoned mourning dove egg may survive long enough to hatch on its own. The hatchling dove would not survive long alone in the nest, however. Survival rates are extremely low for abandoned hatchlings.
So while it’s possible a small percentage of abandoned eggs may hatch, the hatchlings almost never make it to adulthood without parental care.
Can abandoned mourning dove eggs be rescued?
Many people come across an abandoned mourning dove nest with eggs and want to try rescuing them. However, saving the eggs and raising the hatchlings is extremely difficult:
The eggs require very specific artificial incubation
Simply taking the eggs home is not enough. They need to be incubated at exactly 98-100°F with 50-70% relative humidity. The eggs must be turned several times per day. Even slight variations from these conditions can kill the embryos.
Hatchlings need specialized care
Newly hatched doves are altricial, meaning they are helpless, blind, featherless, and must be hand fed every 1-2 hours from dawn to dusk. They need a proper diet and housing. Raising hatchlings has a very steep learning curve.
It’s illegal to take native wild birds
In the U.S. and Canada, it is illegal for anyone who is not a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to take native wild birds like mourning doves, their eggs, feathers, or nests. Doing so can result in fines or other penalties.
Survival rates are low even for experts
Even licensed rehabbers report low survival rates for rescued mourning dove eggs and hatchlings because their needs are so complex. It is extremely difficult to successfully hand raise healthy doves from abandoned eggs.
For all these reasons, abandoned mourning dove eggs are best left alone as survival odds are poor. Licensed rehabbers may attempt rescue in some cases, but it is not recommended for the average person to interfere with the eggs.
How can you help reduce mourning dove egg abandonment?
While some mourning dove egg abandonment is natural, there are steps you can take to help minimize disturbances that lead doves to abandon their nests:
Keep cats indoors
Cats are a top predator of eggs and nestlings. It’s best to keep pet cats inside to help local birds rear their young successfully. Trim back brush near feeders where cats hide and ambush birds.
Use bird-friendly landscaping
Choose native plants that attract bird foods like seeds, berries, and insects. Natural features like bushes, evergreens, and brush piles provide better nesting habitat over manicured lawns.
Avoid excessive noise and light near nests
Turn off outdoor lights at night during nesting season. Keep noise, foot traffic, machinery, and other disruptions to a minimum around any discovered nests.
Reduce chemical pesticide use
Insecticides reduce food sources and herbicides eliminate nesting habitat. Limiting use of these chemicals provides more nourishment and shelter for nesting birds.
Properly dispose of trash
Securely contain garbage, pet food, and other potential food sources that can attract egg-eating predators to your yard.
With some simple tweaks around your property, you can create a more nesting-friendly space to help parent doves successfully raise their young.
Conclusion
Mourning doves sometimes abandon their eggs due to threats like predators, weather, and human disturbance. While abandonment occurs fairly often with mourning doves, they rarely return to eggs they’ve left. Abandoned eggs are vulnerable and unlikely to survive without the parents.
Attempting to rescue abandoned mourning dove eggs is extremely difficult and often illegal without proper wildlife rehabilitation licenses. However, homeowners can take steps like keeping cats indoors, providing natural nesting habitat, and minimizing disruptions to help mourning doves complete their breeding cycles successfully. Being proactive to reduce disturbances can help mourning dove parents continue incubating and raising their young through fledging.