White-winged Doves in California
When white-winged doves are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.
- Status in California
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- March–August
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
When to expect white-winged doves in California
White-winged Doves are summer residents in California, arriving shortly before nesting begins in March and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on saguaro fruit, seeds.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, white-winged doves typically nest from March–August. Nest site: twig platform in trees. Females lay 1–2 eggs, incubate for 14 days, and young leave the nest after 13–16 days.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- White-winged Doves don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, chokecherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after August.
Native California plants that attract white-winged doves
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover white-winged doves use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil.
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.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Feeding white-winged doves through the California year
Expanding across Texas cities; often visits nectar feeders in Arizona.
- Best foods: Sunflower, Millet, Cracked corn.
- In California's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for white-winged doves · Best feeder for white-winged doves
Frequently asked
Are white-winged doves in California year-round?
No. White-winged Doves are summer breeders in California and leave for the winter.
When do white-winged doves nest in California?
Nesting in California typically runs March–August, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 1–2 eggs, incubated for 14 days.
What native plants attract white-winged doves in California?
Smooth sumac, Cardinal flower, Wild bergamot, Black-eyed Susan, Common sunflower, Little bluestem, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry are native plants in California that provide food or cover for white-winged doves.
White-winged Doves in other regions
Other backyard birds in California
Sources
- White-winged Dove — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-winged Dove life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- White-winged Dove — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- 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.