Eurasian Collared-Doves in Utah
When Eurasian doves are present in Utah, when they nest, which native Utah plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Utah
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–September
- Broods
- 3–6 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
When to expect Eurasian doves in Utah
Eurasian Collared-Doves live in Utah all year. Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward grain and feeder seed.
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Nesting in Utah
Across Utah, 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 summers.
- 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.
Native Utah plants that attract Eurasian doves
Of the regional native plants we track for Utah, 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.
Native bunchgrass; winter seed and ground cover for sparrows and juncos.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Fruit and seed plus nest sites for Cactus Wrens.
Feeding Eurasian doves through the Utah year
Introduced to the Bahamas in the 1970s, it reached nearly every state by 2010.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Sunflower.
- In Utah's winter: Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.
Full diet breakdown for Eurasian doves · Best feeder for Eurasian doves
Frequently asked
Are Eurasian doves in Utah year-round?
Yes. Eurasian Collared-Doves are year-round residents in Utah.
When do Eurasian doves nest in Utah?
Nesting in Utah 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 Utah?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Prickly pear are native plants in Utah that provide food or cover for Eurasian doves.
Eurasian Collared-Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in Utah
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 — Utah
- 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.