Mourning Doves in Nova Scotia
When mourning doves are present in Nova Scotia, when they nest, which native Nova Scotia plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canadian zones 5a–7a yard.
- Status in Nova Scotia
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- April–September
- Broods
- Up to 5–6 per season in the south
- Hardiness zones
- Canadian zones 5a–7a (roughly USDA 4–6 equivalent)
When to expect mourning doves in Nova Scotia
Mourning Doves are summer residents in Nova Scotia, 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.
Maritime — cool summers, snowy but ocean-moderated winters, fog and wind along the coast.
Nesting in Nova Scotia
Across Nova Scotia, 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.
Cool summers delay nesting compared with inland regions at similar latitude.
- 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 Nova Scotia plants that attract mourning doves
Of the regional native plants we track for Nova Scotia, these 8 provide food or cover mourning doves use:
Nectar and seed.
Catkin seeds and insects.
Prolific seed heads for finches and sparrows.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in 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 Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia'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 Nova Scotia year-round?
No. Mourning Doves are summer breeders in Nova Scotia and leave for the winter.
When do mourning doves nest in Nova Scotia?
Nesting in Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia?
Wild bergamot, Paper birch, Black-eyed Susan, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple, Red maple, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Nova Scotia that provide food or cover for mourning doves.
Mourning Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nova Scotia
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 — Nova Scotia
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas
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.