Mourning Doves in Alberta
When mourning doves are present in Alberta, when they nest, which native Alberta plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 2a–4b yard.
- Status in Alberta
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–September
- Broods
- Up to 5–6 per season in the south
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 2a–4b
When to expect mourning doves in Alberta
Mourning Doves are summer residents in Alberta, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on seeds of grasses, ragweed and crops.
Continental — prairie in the southeast, aspen parkland in the center, boreal forest in the north and the Rockies in the west.
Nesting in Alberta
Across Alberta, mourning doves typically nest from April–September. Nest site: flimsy twig platform in trees, shrubs, gutters or ledges. Females lay 2 eggs, incubate for 14 days, and young leave the nest after 12–15 days.
Warm, sunny summers with long days.
- Mourning Doves don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, rabbitbrush, willow (bebb) for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after September.
Native Alberta plants that attract mourning doves
Of the regional native plants we track for Alberta, these 8 provide food or cover mourning 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.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding mourning doves through the Alberta year
Doves fill their crop quickly at ground trays and platform feeders, then digest on a nearby perch.
- Best foods: Millet, Cracked corn, Black-oil sunflower, Safflower.
- In Alberta's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for mourning doves · Best feeder for mourning doves
Frequently asked
Are mourning doves in Alberta year-round?
No. Mourning Doves are summer breeders in Alberta and leave for the winter.
When do mourning doves nest in Alberta?
Nesting in Alberta typically runs April–September, with up to 5–6 per season in the south. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 14 days.
What native plants attract mourning doves in Alberta?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Alberta that provide food or cover for mourning doves.
Mourning Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in Alberta
Sources
- Mourning Dove — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mourning Dove life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Mourning Dove — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Alberta
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.