Eurasian Collared-Dove eggs
White, unmarked, about 1.14–1.26 inches long — about 1.3 times the width of a US quarter. A Eurasian Collared-Dove lays 2 eggs, and they hatch after 14–18 days.
- Color
- White, unmarked
- Length
- 1.14–1.26 in (29–32 mm)
- Width
- 0.87–0.94 in (22–24 mm)
- Eggs per clutch
- 2 eggs
- Incubation
- 14–18 days
- Broods per year
- 3–6 per season
- Nest
- Flimsy twig platform on buildings or trees
How to recognise a Eurasian Collared-Dove egg
- Color: white, unmarked. There are no markings on a fresh egg, though eggs pick up stains from the nest as incubation goes on.
- Size: 29–32 mm long by 22–24 mm wide. For scale, a US quarter is 24.3 mm across, so this egg is about 1.3 times the width of a US quarter.
- Where you find it: flimsy twig platform on buildings or trees. Collared doves do not normally use nest boxes.
- Clutch: 2 eggs. A nest with far more eggs than this may hold eggs from two females, or a cowbird egg laid by a brood parasite.
Eggs that look similar
These species lay eggs in the same color group, sorted by how close they are in length. Size and nest site usually settle it.
| Species | Egg | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Eurasian Collared-Dove | white, unmarked | 29–32 mm |
| Mourning Dove | white, unmarked | 26–29 mm |
| Eastern Screech-Owl | white, unmarked | 34–38 mm |
| Purple Martin | white, unmarked | 23–26 mm |
| Rock Pigeon | white, unmarked | 37–41 mm |
When collared doves lay eggs, state by state
Laying starts earliest in Alabama (Feb) and latest in Alberta (Apr). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
| State / province | Nesting season |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Feb–Sep |
| Alberta | Apr–Sep |
| Arizona | Feb–Sep |
| Arkansas | Mar–Sep |
| British Columbia | Apr–Sep |
| California | Feb–Sep |
| Colorado | Mar–Sep |
| Florida | Feb–Sep |
| Georgia | Feb–Sep |
| Idaho | Mar–Sep |
| Illinois | Mar–Sep |
| Indiana | Mar–Sep |
| Iowa | Mar–Sep |
| Kansas | Mar–Sep |
| Kentucky | Mar–Sep |
| Louisiana | Feb–Sep |
| Manitoba | Apr–Sep |
| Michigan | Mar–Sep |
| Minnesota | Apr–Sep |
| Mississippi | Feb–Sep |
| Missouri | Mar–Sep |
| Montana | Apr–Sep |
| Nebraska | Mar–Sep |
| Nevada | Mar–Sep |
| New Mexico | Mar–Sep |
| North Carolina | Mar–Sep |
| North Dakota | Apr–Sep |
| Ohio | Mar–Sep |
| Oklahoma | Mar–Sep |
| Oregon | Mar–Sep |
| Saskatchewan | Apr–Sep |
| South Carolina | Feb–Sep |
| South Dakota | Mar–Sep |
| Tennessee | Mar–Sep |
| Texas | Feb–Sep |
| Utah | Mar–Sep |
| Virginia | Mar–Sep |
| Washington | Mar–Sep |
| Wisconsin | Apr–Sep |
| Wyoming | Apr–Sep |
From egg to fledgling
Eggs hatch after 14–18 days and the young leave 15–19 days later. See the full baby Eurasian Collared-Dove guide for nestling stages and what to do if you find one on the ground.
Found eggs in your yard?
- Leave them. Parents often step away for long stretches, especially before the full clutch is laid, because most songbirds do not start incubating until the last or second-to-last egg.
- A single egg on the ground is usually lost for good. Eggs cannot be hatched at home, and possession of native bird eggs is illegal without a permit.
- If a nest is somewhere inconvenient, wait it out. Most small songbirds are done in three to five weeks.
- Watch from a distance and keep pets indoors. Repeated visits can lead predators to the nest.
Questions
Frequently asked
What color are Eurasian Collared-Dove eggs?
White, unmarked.
How big is a Eurasian Collared-Dove egg?
About 1.14–1.26 in long and 0.87–0.94 in wide (29–32 × 22–24 mm) — about 1.3 times the width of a US quarter.
How many eggs does a Eurasian Collared-Dove lay?
2 eggs per clutch, usually one egg a day, with 3–6 per season.
How long until Eurasian Collared-Dove eggs hatch?
Incubation takes 14–18 days. The young then stay in the nest 15–19 days — about 29–37 days from incubation to leaving.
Can I move or touch a Eurasian Collared-Dove nest with eggs?
Collared doves are non-native and are not covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but check state and local rules first. Disturbing an active nest of any native bird nearby is illegal.
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds: Eurasian Collared-Dove life history
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.