How Do You Keep Doves From Dominating a Feeder?

We've been feeding wild birds ever since we saw a pair of finches bathing in a plant pot that got filled up with rain, probably in March or April. Now we're feeding a couple of dozen finches, 8 or 10 mourning doves, and several hummingbirds.

The biggest concern we have is that one of the doves consistently tries to monopolize the feeder, shooing away all the other birds for 20-30 minutes at a stretch. Other times, all the birds feed at the same time, and seem to get along quite well. We suspect that when this is happening, the aggressive dove is elsewhere.

Suggestions on how we can get the aggressive dove to back off?
Thanks, Rayni and Robert

Image via WikipediaAh, so your "dove of peace" is being a bully at the feeder.

I'm fascinated by the doves. In the gotta eat, gotta fly, gotta go, go, go, world of birds, Mourning Doves move to the beat of their own drummer. They eat, drink, and digest S-L-O-W-L-Y.

The wing shoving is a good observation. Mourning Doves are docile, peaceful, tolerant birds and I often feel bad that they are the hawk's first choice for a quick meal. However, doves are large birds in the backyard bird scene and use that in their favor. By staking out a position and giving competitors a light push off the feeder, they are guaranteed a good meal.

I mentioned this shouldering technique in an earlier post on how to attract doves. An immature dove in my backyard was pushing his wing out to shove other birds and seed eaters away from his feeding area; only no one was around. He was protecting his pile of seed from imaginary, future competitors like persistent chipmunks or feisty birds. Your dove also may be young and not yet settled down.

Mourning Doves are not picky eaters so it doesn’t help to change what you are feeding. They eat a variety of seeds, insects, and berries. Honestly, I don't know a food doves don't like. They stuff their crop until it bulges and then fly off to digest slowly. They do require a large perching area to feed comfortably. So to deter a dove from your feeder, you need to remove the tray, if possible. A second option is to buy a feeder with smaller perches like a tube feeder.

I have several feeders (surprise, surprise) and if a dove is monopolizing one feeder the birds can try another feeder. Even with the dove staying on the one feeder for 20 minutes, your other birds won't starve. It's just one stop in the many they have throughout the day. If it were me, I'd enjoy watching the dove and get a second feeder that’s attractive to only the little birds.

Happy birdwatching,

Sarah