Doves in Illinois are more than just birds. They are part of the state’s rich and diverse natural heritage. Whether they are cooing peacefully in the countryside, surviving in the busy cities, or adapting to new environments, these graceful creatures have a lot to offer. In this article, you will learn about their lives, behaviors, conservation efforts, and the fascinating world they share with us. Come along and discover the beauty and wonder of doves in Illinois.

1. Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura)

Have you ever heard a soft, sad cooing in the morning? If you live in Illinois, you might have listened to the Mourning Dove, one of the most common and loved doves in the state. These doves are gentle and beautiful birds that make any place more peaceful.

How to Spot a Mourning Dove

Mourning Doves are easy to recognize by their slender, elegant look. Here are some things to look for:

• Size: They are about as long as a ruler, with a wingspan of two rulers.
• Color: They have a grayish-brown color with a pinkish chest. They have a black spot on their cheeks.
• Markings: They have a long, pointed tail with a white band at the end. This makes them look different from other doves when they fly.

Where and When to Find Mourning Doves in Illinois

Mourning Doves can live in many places in Illinois, including:

• Cities: They like to visit parks, gardens, and neighborhoods.
• Countryside: They enjoy living in farms, woods, and grasslands.
• Seasons: They are found all over Illinois, but they fly south in the winter.

Mourning Doves like to eat seeds from plants and trees. They often look for seeds on the ground.

How Mourning Doves Fall in Love and Raise Babies

Mourning Doves have interesting ways of finding a mate and making a nest:

• Love: The male dove puffs up his chest and sings to the female dove. He also flies up and down to show off.
• Nest: They make a simple nest with twigs and grasses. They often choose a tree or a building ledge for their nest.
• Babies: Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. They also share the job of feeding the babies.

Some Cool Facts About Mourning Doves

Mourning Doves are more than just pretty birds. They have some amazing skills and meanings:

• Speed: Mourning Doves are very fast flyers. They can fly up to 55 miles per hour!
• Life: Mourning Doves usually live for about one or two years in the wild. They can live longer in captivity.
• Symbol: Mourning Doves are a symbol of peace. Sometimes people release them at weddings and other events.

Mourning Doves are a wonderful part of Illinois’ bird life. They add a sense of serenity and beauty to the state. Next time you see or hear a Mourning Dove, take a moment to admire their elegance and charm.

Related Article: 4 Types of Doves That Live In Arkansas 

2. Rock Pigeons (Columba livia)

Have you ever seen a gray or blue bird with a white patch on its back in the city? If you live in Illinois, you might have seen the Rock Pigeon, one of the most common and adaptable birds in the state. These pigeons are more than just city birds. They have some amazing features and behaviors that make them interesting to learn about.

How to Recognize a Rock Pigeon

Rock Pigeons are easy to spot by their medium size and colorful feathers. Here are some things to look for:

• Size: They are about as long as a ruler or a little longer.
• Color: They have different colors, but mostly gray or blue. They also have a green or purple shine on their necks.
• Markings: They have a white patch on their lower back and two black bars on their wings. These make them look different from other pigeons when they fly.

Where and How to Find Rock Pigeons in Illinois

Rock Pigeons can live in many places in Illinois, but they love the city life. Here’s why:

• City Life: They like to live in buildings, bridges, and other high places. They also like to eat food scraps from people.
• People Friendly: Rock Pigeons are not afraid of people. They can even eat from your hand if you offer them food.
• Food: Rock Pigeons eat many things, but mostly seeds and grains. They often look for food on the ground.

How Rock Pigeons Make Love and Babies

Rock Pigeons have interesting ways of finding a mate and making a nest:

• Love: The male pigeon shows off his chest and sings to the female pigeon. He also flies up and down to impress her.
• Nest: They make a simple nest with twigs and trash. They often choose a building ledge or a bridge for their nest.
• Babies: Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. They also share the job of feeding the babies.

Some Cool Facts About Rock Pigeons

Rock Pigeons are more than just city birds. They have some amazing skills and meanings:

• Sound: Rock Pigeons have a loud and high-pitched cooing call that sounds like “coo-coo-coo”.
• Speed: Rock Pigeons are very fast flyers. They can fly up to 50 miles per hour!
• Life: Rock Pigeons usually live for about 3 to 5 years in the wild. They can live longer in captivity.
• Symbol: Rock Pigeons are a symbol of love and peace. Sometimes people use them to send messages or to celebrate events.

Rock Pigeons are a wonderful part of Illinois’ city life. They add a sense of life and color to the urban landscape. Next time you see or hear a Rock Pigeon, take a moment to admire their adaptability and charm.

3. Eurasian Collared-Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)

Have you ever seen a tan bird with a black ring around its neck? If you live in Illinois, you might have seen the Eurasian Collared-Dove, one of the newest and fastest-growing doves in the state. These doves came from far away, but they have made themselves at home in Illinois.

How to Spot a Eurasian Collared-Dove

Eurasian Collared-Doves are easy to recognize by their size and color. Here are some things to look for:

• Size: They are about as long as a ruler or a little longer.
• Color: They have a tan color with a black ring around their neck. They also have a white spot on each side of their neck, which is a key feature.
• Sound: They have a loud and repeated cooing call that sounds like “coo-COO-coo”.

Where and How to Find Eurasian Collared-Doves in Illinois

Eurasian Collared-Doves can live in many places in Illinois, but they are new to the state. Here’s how they got here:

• History: Eurasian Collared-Doves came from Europe and Asia, but they moved to the Bahamas in the 1970s. Then they flew to the United States, including Illinois.
• Growth: Eurasian Collared-Doves are very good at living in new places. They have grown a lot in number and spread across the state.
• Food: Eurasian Collared-Doves eat many things, but mostly seeds and bugs. They often look for food on the ground or at bird feeders.

How Eurasian Collared-Doves Make Love and Babies

Eurasian Collared-Doves have interesting ways of finding a mate and making a nest:

• Love: The male dove shows off his chest and sings to the female dove. He also flies up and down to impress her.
• Nest: They make a simple nest with twigs and trash. They often choose a tree or a building ledge for their nest.
• Babies: Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. They also share the job of feeding the babies.

Some Cool Facts About Eurasian Collared-Doves

Eurasian Collared-Doves are more than just new birds. They have some amazing skills and meanings:

• Speed: Eurasian Collared-Doves are very fast flyers. They can fly up to 60 miles per hour!
• Life: Eurasian Collared-Doves usually live for about 3 to 6 years in the wild. They can live longer in captivity.
• Symbol: Eurasian Collared-Doves are a symbol of freedom and adventure. They are also known for their loyalty to their mates.

Related: 2 Types Of Doves That Live in Connecticut

4. How Doves Help the Illinois Ecosystem

Have you ever wondered how doves help the environment in Illinois? Doves are more than just pretty birds. They have many roles in the ecosystem that make it better and healthier. In this article, you will learn about some of the ways doves help the ecosystem, such as:

• Spreading seeds
• Helping farmers
• Feeding predators
• Keeping balance

Spreading Seeds

Doves, especially Mourning Doves, are good at spreading seeds:

• Eating Seeds: Doves love to eat seeds from plants like sunflowers and grasses.
• Flying Around: After eating seeds, doves fly to different places, dropping some seeds along the way.
• Growing Plants: The seeds that doves drop can grow into new plants, making the ecosystem more green and diverse.

Helping Farmers

Doves can have both good and bad effects on farmers:

• Eating Crops: Doves, especially Rock Pigeons, may eat some crops like grains and beans, which can cause some losses for farmers.
• Cleaning Seeds: On the other hand, doves can also help farmers by eating weed seeds, which can reduce the need for chemicals to kill weeds.

Feeding Predators

Doves are an important part of the food chain:

• Prey for Predators: Doves are a main food source for many birds of prey in Illinois, such as hawks and owls.
• Balancing Relationships: Their presence helps keep the balance between predators and prey in the ecosystem.

Keeping Balance

Doves contribute to the overall health and stability of the ecosystem:

• Biodiversity: Doves are part of the many bird species in Illinois, adding to its biodiversity.
• Food Web: They play a role in the complex web of interactions among species, ensuring a balanced ecosystem.
• Indicator Species: The presence and behavior of doves can show the health of the environment, helping conservationists monitor changes and make decisions.

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David Cooper