Doves are common and beautiful birds in Indiana. You can easily bring them to your backyard.
In Indiana, you can find different dove types like mourning doves, white-winged doves, and Eurasian collared doves. These doves like places like fields, forests, and parks. They also come to bird feeders for food.
To attract doves, add water and plants with flowers to attract bugs that doves eat. Also, use a bird feeder with seeds like millet and corn.
With a bit of work, you can have doves in your yard to enjoy their beauty.
Doves in Indiana
- Mourning Dove
- Eurasian Collared-Dove
- Rock Pigeon
- White-winged Dove
1. Mourning Dove
The Mourning Dove is a medium-sized bird with a soft, gray-brown body. It has a long tail and a small, dark eye with a bluish ring around it. Its wings have black spots and white edges.
You can spot Mourning Doves in parks, gardens, and even near roads in Indiana. They like open places and places with some trees.
What It Eats: Mourning Doves mostly eat seeds from grass and weeds. Sometimes, they might also eat tiny bugs and fruits.
Where It Lives: You can find Mourning Doves in different places like fields, woods, and even neighborhoods. They often sit on wires or branches to watch out for danger.
Related: Discover 10 Doves in Florida (2023)
How to Know It’s a Mourning Dove:
- Look for its long tail and soft, gray-brown feathers.
- Notice the small, dark eye with a bluish ring.
- Listen for its gentle cooing sound.
Fun Fact: Mourning Doves are really good at flying fast and straight. They flap their wings quickly and then glide.
Remember to be kind to birds and watch them from a distance so they feel safe.
Related: Discover 8 Doves in Arizona
2. Eurasian Collared Dove
The Eurasian Collared-Dove is a medium-sized bird with a pale gray body and a distinctive black “collar” mark on its neck. It has a squared tail and red eyes.
Where to Find It: You can find Eurasian Collared-Doves in towns, cities, and countryside areas in Indiana. They often perch on wires and rooftops.
What It Eats: These doves eat seeds, grains, and sometimes small insects. You might see them on the ground looking for food.
Where It Lives: Eurasian Collared-Doves live in many different places, like gardens, parks, and nearby houses. They like areas with trees and places to rest up high.
Related: Discover 4 Doves in Michigan
How to Know It’s a Eurasian Collared Dove:
- Look for the gray body and black “collar” on its neck.
- Check for its red eyes.
- Notice its squared tail when it flies.
Fun Fact: Eurasian Collared-Doves are originally from Europe but now live in Indiana too. They make soft, cooing sounds that can sound like “coo-COO.”
Related: Discover 5 Beautiful Doves in Colorado
3. Rock Dove
The Rock Pigeon, often seen in cities, has a plump body with gray feathers. It can come in different colors, like gray, white, or brown. Look for its shiny neck feathers that can change colors.
Where to Find It: You can spot Rock Pigeons in towns, cities, and parks all around Indiana. They like to hang out on buildings and ledges.
What It Eats: Rock Pigeons eat seeds, grains, and sometimes leftover food that people drop. You might see them picking at the ground for snacks.
Related: Discover 5 Types of Doves in Hawaii
Where It Lives: These pigeons make their homes on tall structures like buildings and bridges. They’re good at finding cozy spots in cities.
How to Know It’s a Rock Pigeon:
- Look for the plump body and gray feathers.
- Notice the shiny neck feathers that can change colors.
- Check if it’s hanging out in busy places like city streets.
Fun Fact: Rock Pigeons are really good at finding their way home, even from far away. They’ve been used to carry messages in the past!
Related: Discover 8 Doves in California (2023)
4. White-winged Dove
The White-winged Dove is a medium-sized bird with brownish-gray feathers. It has a white patch on its wings that you can see when it flies.
Where to Find It: You might see White-winged Doves in parts of Indiana where it’s warmer. They like open areas with some trees.
What It Eats: White-winged Doves eat seeds, fruits, and sometimes insects. They might look for food on the ground or in trees.
Where It Lives: These doves live in places like gardens, parks, and desert-like areas. They like spots where they can find food easily.
Related: Discover 2 Doves in Connecticut
How to Know It’s a White-winged Dove:
- Look for the brownish-gray feathers and the white patch on its wings.
- Notice if it’s in an open area with trees around.
- Listen for its cooing sounds that can sound like “who-cooks-for-you.”
Fun Fact: White-winged Doves can make really soft sounds that almost sound like they’re whispering!
Related: Discover 5 Species of Doves in Georgia (2023)!
Conclusion
Doves add beauty to Indiana’s wildlife. Learning about them and inviting them to our yards can help them thrive.
To know more, checkbooks, articles, and the Indiana Audubon Society’s website. Understanding doves helps us value their role in nature and protect them from dangers like habitat loss and hunting.