Michigan is home to a variety of beautiful dove species. They can be found throughout the state’s diverse habitats.
From the Mourning doves to the distinctive markings of the Eurasian Collared dove, these peaceful birds are a joy to observe and learn about.
In this blog post, we will explore the 4 types of doves in Michigan, their characteristics, habitat, diet, and location.
What kind of doves are in Michigan?
There are 4 types of doves usually found in Michigan. Here are the bird’s name, habitat, description, diet, fun facts, etc.
- Mourning Dove
- Rock Dove
- Ring-necked Dove
- Eurasian-Collared Dove
Whether you are a bird lover or photographer or just curious to know about Michigan’s natural wonders join us. We will discover the fascinating world of doves in Michigan.
1. Mourning Dove
Mourning Doves are the most common doves in Hawaii, Florida, and Michigan as well as in other parts of America.
Mourning Dove is commonly seen in Michigan’s telephone wires, trees, and forage for seeds on the ground.
This dove has a slender tail, a small head, black eyes, and a black small beak. Mourning doves are cavity nesters, and they will often build their nests in birdhouses. Also, Mourning Doves make nests in Arkansas.
Mourning Dove can grow up to 9-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 15-18 inches.
Mourning Doves eat corn, millet, buckwheat, Rye, pine nuts, foxtail, peanuts, canary grass, wheat, sunflower seeds, rapeseed, etc. In winter, they mostly eat foxtail millet and corn.
This dove has a long tail, short legs, overall greyish-brown color body, with black spots on the wings. They are looking very beautiful when they are in a grooming position.
Mourning Dove’s main habitats include bare ground, telephone wires, and trees. They make nests on trees with small straws.
If you feed them millet and other seeds they can spend much of their time in your backyard. You can also find these beautiful doves in Connecticut.
Mourning Doves feed busily on the ground, swallowing seeds. Once they finish their feeds, they can fly into a safe area and digest the meal.
How to Identify a Mourning Dove:
Mourning Doves are common dove species found in North America’s different states. You can easily identify these birds by their color, size, behavior, and call.
By Size and Shape: Mourning Doves are medium-sized birds. They can grow up to 9-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 17-19 inches. They have plump, small heads, rounded bodies, and long tails.
By Color: Mourning Doves have a light grey-brown body with a darker head and neck. They have a small black mark on their face below the eye. Their wings have black spots and a white edge.
By Behavior: You can find these birds in a small group or even alone, walking on the ground while foraging for food.
By Call: Mourning Doves have a distinctive cooing call that sounds like “coo-OO-oo-oo“.
Related: 2 Types of Cranes in Michigan
2. Rock Pigeon:
Rock Pigeons are highly common doves in Colorado as well as Michigan. This dove is large that’s why everyone called them a “Pigeon”.
They are gathering in huge flocks like a mourning dove. Rock Pigeons were introduced by European Settlers in the Early 17th Century. Rock pigeons are also the most common doves in Arizona.
You can find this bird anywhere in the world. This bird species is one of the most common dove species in the world.
The Rock Pigeons love to eat corn, seeds, wheat, and scraps of food that are discarded by humans. Rock Pigeons have a good relationship with humans. Also, you can easily find these doves in Delaware.
You can easily attract these birds with offers of sunflower seeds, other seeds, and corn, and provide them with dense trees for nesting, so they spend more time in your backyard.
If you saw in a TV or movie some birds carrying human messages? Yes, Those birds are Rock Pigeons. This bird is highly intelligent and has special bonds with humans.
How to Identify:
You can easily identify this dove by its size and shape, color, behavior, and calls.
By Size and Shape: Rock Pigeons are medium-sized birds. This dove can grow up to 11-14 inches in length with a wingspan of 23-26 inches. They have plump, rounded bodies, short necks, and small heads.
By Color: Rock Pigeons have a grey-blue head, neck, and breast with feathers on their necks. Their wings are grey with two black bars, and they have a dark tail with a white band. Their feet are reddish-pink.
By Behavior: Rock Pigeons are usually found in large flocks, and they often perch on buildings, wires, and telephone poles. They are also commonly seen on the ground, walking and pecking for food.
By Call: Rock Pigeons have a distinctive cooing call that sounds like “coo-COO-coo.”
3. Ring-necked Doves: Invasive Species
Ring-necked dove is a commonly Kept companion dove. This dove is found in Georgia, Michigan, and Florida. But they are not native to Michigan.
Ring-necked doves are small birds 12-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 19-20 inches. They have plump, rounded bodies, small heads, and long tails.
Where to find in Michigan: Ring-necked Doves are easily found in urban and suburban areas, where they can easily nest on buildings and feed on seeds and grains.
In Michigan, there are few places where they are found infrequently.
Habitat: Ring-necked Doves always prefer open areas with scattered trees and bushes. Also, they prefer parks, gardens, and agricultural fields.
Diet: Ring-necked Doves feed on seeds and grains, but they may also eat insects.
How to Identify:
Ring-necked Doves have a greyish-brown body with a distinctive black half-collar on the back of their neck.
They have a pinkish-brown beak and feet, and their wings have a dark stripe and a white edge. They have a soft cooing call that is similar to the Mourning Dove.
If you spot a bird in Michigan that fits this description, it may be a Ring-necked Dove. However, one important thing about these birds is they are not native to Michigan and may be considered an invasive species.
Related: 13 White Birds in Michigan
4. Eurasian Collared-Dove: Invasive Species
The Eurasian collared dove is not a native bird of North America. It was introduced into the Bahamas in the 1970s after the 1980s it spread throughout North America.
Eurasian Collared-Dove’s main habitats include bare ground, telephone wires, and trees like the Mourning Dove. They make nests on trees with small straws.
This common breeding bird is very difficult to identify.
If you see this bird from behind, you can’t identify this bird whether it is Eurasian Collared-Dove or it’s a Mourning Dove.
They have a black half-collar on the neck that’s why they are very difficult to identify.
You can easily attract these birds with offers of sunflower seeds, other seeds, and corn, and provide them with dense trees for nesting, so they spend more time in your backyard.
How to Identify: (by Michigan Government Website)
- Mostly grey with white upper body
- The black collar on the back of its neck
- Slender black bill
- The deep red iris of the eye
- Broad, squared tail with black base
- Dark red legs and feet
People Also Ask:
In this section, I will cover the main topic that people also ask on Google for answers about “Doves in Michigan”.
Are doves common in Michigan?
Doves are found in Michigan, but depending on the season and location. The most common dove species in Michigan is the mourning dove, which is found throughout the state during the breeding season from late May to early September.
Is there a dove season in Michigan?
Yes, there is a dove hunting season in Michigan. The season usually runs from September 1st to November 14th but requires a valid dove hunting license.
Do doves migrate from Michigan?
Yes, 4 Million Mourning Doves migrate from South to Michigan each fall and return in the Spring.
What states have no dove hunting?
The only states that have no dove hunting are Michigan and the Northeast.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Michigan’s dove species are beautiful birds. Observing their behaviors, and beautiful colors and listening to their peaceful calls can be a relaxing experience. So, connect with us to explore more birds, doves, herons, hawks, and owls found all over America’s different states.
Sources: Michigan Government, All about birds, ebirds
