Mourning doves typically nest in a variety of locations, showing adaptability to different environments:
- They most commonly build their nests in trees, especially pines and other evergreens, leafy shrubs, and vines. These nests are usually placed 10 to 25 feet above the ground, though they can be higher, sometimes 50 feet or more
- Mourning doves often choose horizontal forks in trees as nesting sites. They also frequently nest on protected ledges of houses, such as porches, eaves, gutters, and window ledges
- Occasionally, mourning doves nest on the ground, particularly in dense shrubbery or areas with good ground cover. Ground nesting is less common and riskier due to predators, but it occurs especially in the western parts of their range or when suitable elevated sites are scarce
- They build simple, flimsy nests made of twigs, pine needles, and grass, often loosely constructed in just a few hours
- Mourning doves do not use nest boxes and sometimes reuse their own or other species’ nests
In summary, mourning doves nest mostly in trees and shrubs but can also nest on building ledges or occasionally on the ground depending on habitat availability and safety
