Mourning Doves in New Brunswick
When mourning doves are present in New Brunswick, when they nest, which native New Brunswick plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 3a–5b yard.
- Status in New Brunswick
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–September
- Broods
- Up to 5–6 per season in the south
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 3a–5b
When to expect mourning doves in New Brunswick
Mourning Doves are summer residents in New Brunswick, 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.
Humid continental with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.
Nesting in New Brunswick
Across New Brunswick, 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.
Mild summers.
- Mourning Doves don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as paper birch, sugar maple, red maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after September.
Native New Brunswick plants that attract mourning doves
Of the regional native plants we track for New Brunswick, these 8 provide food or cover mourning doves use:
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
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.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding mourning doves through the New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick'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 New Brunswick year-round?
No. Mourning Doves are summer breeders in New Brunswick and leave for the winter.
When do mourning doves nest in New Brunswick?
Nesting in New Brunswick 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 New Brunswick?
Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in New Brunswick that provide food or cover for mourning doves.
Mourning Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Brunswick
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 — New Brunswick
- 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.