Eurasian Collared-Doves in Alberta
When Eurasian doves are present in Alberta, when they nest, which native Alberta plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 2a–4b yard.
- Status in Alberta
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–September
- Broods
- 3–6 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 2a–4b
When to expect Eurasian doves in Alberta
Eurasian Collared-Doves live in Alberta all year. Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Continental — prairie in the southeast, aspen parkland in the center, boreal forest in the north and the Rockies in the west.
Nesting in Alberta
Across Alberta, Eurasian doves typically nest from April–September. Nest site: flimsy twig platform on buildings or trees. Females lay 2 eggs, incubate for 14–18 days, and young leave the nest after 15–19 days.
Warm, sunny summers with long days.
- Eurasian Collared-Doves don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, rabbitbrush, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after September.
Native Alberta plants that attract Eurasian doves
Of the regional native plants we track for Alberta, these 8 provide food or cover Eurasian doves use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding Eurasian doves through the Alberta year
Introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s, it reached nearly every state by 2010.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Sunflower.
- In Alberta's winter: Cold winters broken by chinook thaws in the south.
Full diet breakdown for Eurasian doves · Best feeder for Eurasian doves
Frequently asked
Are Eurasian doves in Alberta year-round?
Yes. Eurasian Collared-Doves are year-round residents in Alberta.
When do Eurasian doves nest in Alberta?
Nesting in Alberta typically runs April–September, with 3–6 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 14–18 days.
What native plants attract Eurasian doves in Alberta?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Alberta that provide food or cover for Eurasian doves.
Eurasian Collared-Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alberta
Sources
- Eurasian Collared-Dove — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eurasian Collared-Dove life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Eurasian Collared-Dove — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alberta
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
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.