Mourning Doves in South Dakota
When mourning doves are present in South Dakota, when they nest, which native South Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.
- Status in South Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–September
- Broods
- Up to 5–6 per season in the south
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
When to expect mourning doves in South Dakota
Mourning Doves live in South Dakota all year. Cold, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward waste grain and feeder seed.
Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.
Nesting in South Dakota
Across South Dakota, mourning doves typically nest from March–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 summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.
- Mourning Doves don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as sugar maple for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after September.
Native South Dakota plants that attract mourning doves
Of the regional native plants we track for South Dakota, 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.
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.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall.
Feeding mourning doves through the South Dakota 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 South Dakota's winter: Cold, windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for mourning doves · Best feeder for mourning doves
Frequently asked
Are mourning doves in South Dakota year-round?
Yes. Mourning Doves are year-round residents in South Dakota.
When do mourning doves nest in South Dakota?
Nesting in South Dakota typically runs March–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 South Dakota?
Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, New England aster, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple, Rocky Mountain bee plant are native plants in South Dakota that provide food or cover for mourning doves.
Mourning Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in South Dakota
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 — South Dakota
- 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.