Eurasian Collared-Doves in New Mexico

Eurasian Collared-Doves live in New Mexico all year. Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Arid to semi-arid, with Chihuahuan desert in the south and mountain forest above 7,000 ft.

Across New Mexico, 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, dry early summer followed by the July–August monsoon.

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

Of the regional native plants we track for New Mexico, 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 New Mexico's winter: Cold nights and sunny days; many desert and mountain birds move to lower elevations.

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