Mourning Doves in British Columbia
When mourning doves are present in British Columbia, when they nest, which native British Columbia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 1a–9a yard.
- Status in British Columbia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–September
- Broods
- Up to 5–6 per season in the south
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 1a–9a
- Range note
- Southern interior and Fraser Valley.
When to expect mourning doves in British Columbia
Mourning Doves are summer residents in British Columbia, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent. Southern interior and Fraser Valley. Through the season they feed on seeds of grasses, ragweed and crops.
Temperate rainforest on the coast, dry interior valleys and mountains, and boreal forest in the northeast.
Nesting in British Columbia
Across British Columbia, 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.
Dry, warm coastal summers; hot in the Okanagan.
- 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 British Columbia plants that attract mourning doves
Of the regional native plants we track for British Columbia, 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.
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.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Feeding mourning doves through the British Columbia 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 British Columbia'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 British Columbia year-round?
No. Mourning Doves are summer breeders in British Columbia and leave for the winter. Southern interior and Fraser Valley.
When do mourning doves nest in British Columbia?
Nesting in British Columbia 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 British Columbia?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Paper birch, Rocky Mountain bee plant, Rabbitbrush, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in British Columbia that provide food or cover for mourning doves.
Mourning Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in British Columbia
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 — British Columbia
- 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.