Collared Doves in England
When the Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is present in England, when it nests, and which native England plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in England
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–September
- Size
- 32 cm, 200 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect collared doves in England
The Collared Dove lives in England all year round. Frosts are frequent but prolonged snow is rare in the south; garden feeders carry tits and finches through January and February, and Continental thrushes arrive in hard weather.
Temperate maritime: mild, damp and changeable, drier and sunnier in the south-east than the north-west.
Nesting in England
In England the Collared Dove usually nests March–September. Nest site: thin twig platform. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 14–18 days; chicks fledge after 15–19 days, and pairs raise Up to 6 per year.
- The Collared Dove does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native England plants for collared doves
Of the native plants we track for England, these 4 provide food the Collared Dove uses:
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
Catkin seed for Siskins and Redpolls; many caterpillars for tit broods.
Cones hold seed that Siskins and Goldfinches feed on all winter.
Feeding in the garden
Seeds and grain.
- Best foods: Seed mix.
- Feeders: Ground tray, Open table.
- Colonised Britain only in 1955 and now nests in most towns.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are collared doves in England all year?
Yes — the Collared Dove is resident in England all year.
When do collared doves nest in England?
Typically March–September. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 14–18 days, with Up to 6 per year.
Which native plants help collared doves in England?
Teasel, Common knapweed, Silver birch, Alder are native to England and provide food or cover the Collared Dove uses.
Collared Doves in other countries
Other garden birds in England
Sources
- Collared Dove — RSPB bird guide
- Collared Dove — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
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.