Collared Doves in Switzerland
When the Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) is present in Switzerland, when it nests, and which native Switzerland plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Switzerland
- 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 Switzerland
The Collared Dove lives in Switzerland all year round. Snowy winters in the mountains; milder on the Swiss plateau and around the lakes.
Temperate-continental in the plateau, Alpine in the mountains.
Nesting in Switzerland
In Switzerland 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 Switzerland plants for collared doves
Of the native plants we track for Switzerland, 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 Switzerland all year?
Yes — the Collared Dove is resident in Switzerland all year.
When do collared doves nest in Switzerland?
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 Switzerland?
Teasel, Silver birch, Alder are native to Switzerland and provide food or cover the Collared Dove uses.
Collared Doves in other countries
Other garden birds in Switzerland
Sources
- Collared Dove — RSPB bird guide
- Collared Dove — BTO BirdFacts
- Swiss Breeding Bird Atlas — Swiss Ornithological Institute
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.