Collared Doves in Portugal
When the Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is present in Portugal, when it nests, and which native Portugal plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Portugal
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- February–September
- Size
- 32 cm, 200 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect collared doves in Portugal
The Collared Dove lives in Portugal all year round. Mild, wet winters that attract many wintering European songbirds.
Mediterranean with strong Atlantic influence, wetter in the north.
Nesting in Portugal
In Portugal the Collared Dove usually nests February–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 Portugal plants for collared doves
Of the native plants we track for Portugal, these 3 provide food the Collared Dove uses:
Goldfinches extract the seeds from standing heads in autumn and winter.
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 Portugal all year?
Yes — the Collared Dove is resident in Portugal all year.
When do collared doves nest in Portugal?
Typically February–September. Clutches are 2 eggs, incubated for 14–18 days, with Up to 6 per year.
Which native plants help collared doves in Portugal?
Teasel, Silver birch, Alder are native to Portugal and provide food or cover the Collared Dove uses.
Collared Doves in other countries
Other garden birds in Portugal
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.