Ohio · Year-round resident

Eurasian Collared-Doves in Ohio

When Eurasian doves are present in Ohio, when they nest, which native Ohio plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5b–7a yard.

Pigeons and doves (Columbidae)Eurasian Collared-DoveStreptopelia decaocto

Status in Ohio: Year-round resident
Nesting window: March–September
Broods: 3–6 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 5b–7a

When to expect Eurasian doves in Ohio

Eurasian Collared-Doves live in Ohio all year. Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.

Humid continental; cold winters and warm summers, with Lake Erie moderating the north coast.

Nesting in Ohio

Across Ohio, 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.

Warm, humid summers; western Lake Erie marshes are a major migration stopover.

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 Ohio plants that attract Eurasian doves

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

Wild bergamot

Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Summer nectar and fall seed.

Purple coneflower

Echinacea purpurea · Perennial

Seed heads.

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.

Sugar maple

Acer saccharum · Tree

Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.

Feeding Eurasian doves through the Ohio year

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

Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Sunflower.
In Ohio's winter: Snow and sub-freezing stretches are routine; Carolina Chickadees hold the south and Black-capped the north.

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

Frequently asked

Are Eurasian doves in Ohio year-round?

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

When do Eurasian doves nest in Ohio?

Nesting in Ohio 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 Ohio?

Wild bergamot, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple are native plants in Ohio that provide food or cover for Eurasian doves.

Other backyard birds in Ohio

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Carolina Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue Jay House Finch Purple Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Carolina Wren Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco White-throated Sparrow Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Screech-Owl Wood Thrush Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling White-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow

Sources

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.