Eurasian Collared-Doves in South Dakota
When Eurasian doves are present in South Dakota, when they nest, which native South Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.
- Status in South Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–September
- Broods
- 3–6 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
When to expect Eurasian doves in South Dakota
Eurasian Collared-Doves live in South Dakota all year. Cold, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.
Nesting in South Dakota
Across South Dakota, 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 summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.
- 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 South Dakota plants that attract Eurasian doves
Of the regional native plants we track for South Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover Eurasian doves use:
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
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.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Feeding Eurasian doves through the South Dakota year
Introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s, it reached nearly every state by 2010.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Sunflower.
- In South Dakota's winter: Cold, windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for Eurasian doves · Best feeder for Eurasian doves
Frequently asked
Are Eurasian doves in South Dakota year-round?
Yes. Eurasian Collared-Doves are year-round residents in South Dakota.
When do Eurasian doves nest in South Dakota?
Nesting in South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in South Dakota that provide food or cover for Eurasian doves.
Eurasian Collared-Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in South Dakota
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 — South Dakota
- 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.