Collared Doves in Netherlands
When the Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is present in Netherlands, when it nests, and which native Netherlands plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Netherlands
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- March–September
- Size
- 32 cm, 200 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect collared doves in Netherlands
The Collared Dove lives in Netherlands all year round. Mild, wet winters; hard frosts bring large movements of thrushes and finches.
Temperate maritime, flat and low-lying, with wind off the North Sea.
Nesting in Netherlands
In Netherlands 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 Netherlands plants for collared doves
Of the native plants we track for Netherlands, 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 Netherlands all year?
Yes — the Collared Dove is resident in Netherlands all year.
When do collared doves nest in Netherlands?
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 Netherlands?
Teasel, Common knapweed, Silver birch, Alder are native to Netherlands and provide food or cover the Collared Dove uses.
Collared Doves in other countries
Other garden birds in Netherlands
Sources
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.