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- Nesting:
- about 30 days from start of nest building to
the departure of the young
- Nest:
- about five inches in diameter; constructed of
small twigs, pine needles and plant stems
- Nesting season:
- in the Southeast--February to
October, with 80 percent of production between April 7
and September 7
- Clutch size:
- two pure white eggs
- Incubation:
- 14 days
- Nestling stage:
- 11 to 12 days
- Development of young:
- Fly at 12 days; have adult
plumage at three to five months
- Food:
- seeds, especially of grasses; parents feed young
pigeon milk
- Mortality:
- about 50 percent of dove population dies
each year
- Speed of flight:
- usually 30 to 40 miles per hour,
maximum 55 miles per hour for short spurts
Warnell School of Forest Resources