Eurasian Collared-Doves in Illinois

Eurasian Collared-Doves live in Illinois all year. Cold, windy winters in the north; the southern tip is milder and hosts more wintering species. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid continental, grading from the Lake Michigan shore and prairie north to the forested Shawnee Hills in the south.

Across Illinois, Eurasian doves typically nest from March–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.

Hot, humid summers; much of the state is farmland, so backyard native plantings matter.

• Eurasian Collared-Doves don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as sugar maple for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after September.

Of the regional native plants we track for Illinois, these 8 provide food or cover Eurasian doves use:

Introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s, it reached nearly every state by 2010.

• Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Sunflower.
• In Illinois's winter: Cold, windy winters in the north; the southern tip is milder and hosts more wintering species.

Full diet breakdown for Eurasian doves · Best feeder for Eurasian doves