Eurasian Collared-Doves in Kansas
When Eurasian doves are present in Kansas, when they nest, which native Kansas plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.
- Status in Kansas
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–September
- Broods
- 3–6 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5b–7a
When to expect Eurasian doves in Kansas
Eurasian Collared-Doves live in Kansas all year. Cold, dry winters with strong wind; windbreaks and evergreens are prime roost cover. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Continental — humid tallgrass Flint Hills in the east to semi-arid shortgrass prairie in the west.
Nesting in Kansas
Across Kansas, 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 summers above 95°F; western Kansas is dry, so water draws birds from far away.
- 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.
Native Kansas plants that attract Eurasian doves
Of the regional native plants we track for Kansas, these 8 provide food or cover Eurasian doves use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Leave seed heads up through winter for goldfinches.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Feeding Eurasian doves through the Kansas year
Introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s, it reached nearly every state by 2010.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Sunflower.
- In Kansas's winter: Cold, dry winters with strong wind; windbreaks and evergreens are prime roost cover.
Full diet breakdown for Eurasian doves · Best feeder for Eurasian doves
Frequently asked
Are Eurasian doves in Kansas year-round?
Yes. Eurasian Collared-Doves are year-round residents in Kansas.
When do Eurasian doves nest in Kansas?
Nesting in Kansas typically runs March–September, with 3–6 per season. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 14–18 days.
What native plants attract Eurasian doves in Kansas?
Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple are native plants in Kansas that provide food or cover for Eurasian doves.
Eurasian Collared-Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in Kansas
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 — Kansas
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- 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.