Manitoba · Year-round resident

Eurasian Collared-Doves in Manitoba

When Eurasian doves are present in Manitoba, when they nest, which native Manitoba plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–3b yard.

Pigeons and doves (Columbidae)Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto
Status in Manitoba
Year-round resident
Nesting window
April–September
Broods
3–6 per season
Hardiness zones
Canada 1a–3b

When to expect Eurasian doves in Manitoba

Eurasian Collared-Doves live in Manitoba all year. Very cold winters to −30°F. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Continental, from prairie in the southwest to boreal forest and Hudson Bay tundra in the north.

Nesting in Manitoba

Across Manitoba, 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 summers with a short, intense nesting season.

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

Native Manitoba plants that attract Eurasian doves

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

Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta · Perennial

Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.

Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus · Perennial

Annual native sunflower — the original feeder seed.

New England aster
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Little bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium · Perennial

Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.

Tall goldenrod
Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Paper birch
Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Rocky Mountain bee plant
Cleome serrulata · Perennial

Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.

Feeding Eurasian doves through the Manitoba year

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

  • Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Sunflower.
  • In Manitoba's winter: Very cold winters to −30°F.

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

Frequently asked

Are Eurasian doves in Manitoba year-round?

Yes. Eurasian Collared-Doves are year-round residents in Manitoba.

When do Eurasian doves nest in Manitoba?

Nesting in Manitoba 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 Manitoba?

Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in Manitoba that provide food or cover for Eurasian doves.

Eurasian Collared-Doves in other regions

Other backyard birds in Manitoba

Sources

  1. Eurasian Collared-Dove — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Eurasian Collared-Dove life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Eurasian Collared-Dove — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
  4. eBird region overview and bar charts — Manitoba
  5. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  6. 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.