How to Keep Mourning Doves Away from Bird Feeder

Are you tired of mourning doves taking over your bird feeder? While these gentle birds are beautiful to watch, they can quickly eat all the seeds and leave little for other birds you want to attract.

If you want to enjoy a variety of feathered visitors without the constant presence of mourning doves, this guide is for you. Keep reading to discover simple, effective ways to keep mourning doves away from your feeder—so your backyard stays lively and balanced.

Short Answer: You can keep mourning doves away from your bird feeder by using small perches, tube feeders, or caged feeders. Doves avoid tight spaces, so these setups work well.

Why Mourning Doves Visit Feeders

Mourning doves visit feeders mainly for food and safety. They prefer open spaces where they can watch for predators. These birds eat mostly seeds and grains. They often eat on the ground near feeders rather than on the feeder itself.

Mourning doves favor easy-to-eat and energy-rich foods. They like small, soft seeds that they can swallow quickly. Their favorite foods include:

• White millet
• Cracked corn
• Sunflower seeds (especially striped)
• Safflower seeds

These foods attract doves because they provide good nutrition. Using these seeds in your feeder will help attract or control their visits.

Choosing The Right Feeder

Choosing a feeder with smaller ports helps limit access for mourning doves. Select feeders designed for smaller birds to keep doves away. This simple change can protect your feeder for desired bird visitors.

Types Of Bird Feeders

Some feeders are perfect for small birds. Tube feeders have small holes. Doves find these holes tricky. Suet feeders are another choice. They hold fat and seeds. Doves can’t hang well. Hopper feeders have roofs. They keep seeds dry. But doves can land on them.

Feeders That Discourage Doves

Doves like flat surfaces. Choose feeders that move. They can wobble or spin. Doves don’t like this. Use a weight-sensitive feeder. It closes under heavy birds. Doves are heavier than many birds. So, they can’t access seeds easily. This keeps the seeds for smaller birds. `

Feeding Strategies To Limit Dove Access

Choosing birdseed that doves dislike helps keep them away. Millet and cracked corn attract doves most. Instead, try nyjer seed or sunflower seeds. These seeds attract smaller birds and are less appealing to doves.

Place feeders in spots hard for doves to reach. Use feeders with a smaller perch to limit dove landing space. Keep feeders higher off the ground to reduce dove access.

Timing is key. Offer food early in the morning or late in the evening. Doves prefer feeding during the day. Feeding at different times can reduce dove visits.

Physical Barriers To Keep Doves Away

Baffles and guards help block doves from reaching feeders. These devices fit above or below the feeder. They create a barrier that doves cannot cross. Baffles come in many shapes, like cones or cylinders. They stop doves from landing or climbing to the food.

Netting and screens cover the feeder or the feeding area. Netting lets small birds pass but keeps doves out. Screens can be placed around the feeder stand. They make it hard for doves to get near the seeds. Both options reduce dove visits without hurting them.

Natural Deterrents And Repellents

Using visual deterrents can help keep mourning doves away from feeders. Hanging shiny objects like aluminum foil strips or old CDs creates reflections that scare birds. Moving items such as wind spinners or plastic owls also works well. Changing their position often keeps birds from getting used to them.

Sound-based repellents use noises to make the area uncomfortable for doves. Devices that emit ultrasonic sounds or predator calls can keep birds away. Playing loud, sudden noises nearby may also help. These sounds should be used carefully to avoid disturbing neighbors or other animals.

Maintaining A Dove-free Feeding Area

Spilled seeds attract mourning doves quickly. Clean up any dropped seeds daily. This reduces the food that draws doves near. Use a small broom or brush for easy cleanup. Keeping the area tidy helps keep unwanted birds away.

Regular feeder maintenance is key. Check feeders for damage or leaks often. Repair or replace broken parts to stop seed spills. Clean feeders with warm, soapy water to remove dirt. Dry them well before refilling to prevent mold.

• Remove fallen seeds promptly
• Fix broken feeders quickly
• Clean feeders every week
• Keep the feeding area dry and neat

Alternative Feeding Options For Other Birds

Feed small songbirds with tube feeders that have tiny holes. These feeders release seeds slowly, perfect for small beaks. Use Nyjer seed, which doves don’t like.

Try platform feeders with wire mesh bottoms. The mesh lets small birds feed but stops doves.

Type of Feeding Station	Best for	Why Dove-Free
Tube Feeders	Small songbirds	Small holes limit dove access
Platform Feeders with Mesh	Songbirds of all sizes	Mesh bottom blocks doves
Nyjer Seed Feeders	Finches and small birds	Doves avoid nyjer seeds

• Place feeders away from open areas where doves gather.
• Use spikes or wire-around feeding zones to keep doves off.
• Set up feeders near bushes to attract small birds safely.

My Personal Experience

You can keep mourning doves away from your bird feeder by using small perches, tube feeders, or a cage-style feeder, since doves avoid tight spaces. In my experience, the change was clear the moment I switched to a narrow tube feeder.

The doves tried to land once or twice, but they slid off or could not fit, so they soon gave up. Smaller birds like finches and chickadees kept coming, and the yard felt calmer without the dove crowd under the feeder. I also placed a separate ground tray far from the main feeders, and the doves moved there instead, which kept everyone happy and kept the feeder balanced.

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How to Keep Mourning Doves Away from Bird Feeder DIY

Short answer: You can keep mourning doves away with small perches, cage-style feeders, and a simple DIY trick that makes the feeder too tight for them to land.

I like easy fixes, so I tried a DIY ring made from thin wire and zip ties. I placed it around my feeder so the perch got small. The small birds still came, but the doves could not sit well and flew off. It felt like placing a tiny fence that only the big guests notice.

• DIY fix: Add a wire ring or small dowels to shrink the perch. Doves skip feeders with tight space.

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How to Get Rid of Mourning Doves Naturally

Short answer: Use space, shape, and food to gently guide doves away without harm.

I learned that doves like wide spots and calm ground areas. So I moved my feeder near a shrub and used a tube feeder with no flat top. The doves tried once but left fast. It felt like I changed the stage, and the actors who liked big open spots had no place to stand.

• Use narrow feeders and remove flat spots. Doves avoid tight, uneven areas.

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How to Keep Pigeons Away from Bird Feeder

Short answer: Small perches, tube feeders, and weight-control bases keep pigeons away.

Pigeons showed up in my yard one summer and ate like they were at a buffet. I swapped to a tube feeder with a “soft swing” perch. The pigeons tried, lost balance, and left. I laughed because it looked like they stepped on a boat that kept moving.

• Use a tube feeder with soft or narrow perches. Pigeons fail to grip.

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Homemade Pigeon-Proof Bird Feeder

Short answer: A simple cage or mesh around the feeder keeps pigeons out and lets small birds in.

I made my own cage from wire mesh. It took ten minutes and cost almost nothing. Small birds fit well, but pigeons stayed out. They walked around like they were looking for a gate that did not exist. It felt like a tiny VIP room for small birds only.

• Wrap mesh around the feeder and leave gaps only small birds can fit through.

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Do Doves Eat Sunflower Seeds in the Shell

Short answer: Yes, doves eat sunflower seeds in the shell, and they will pick them fast if they are on the ground or in open feeders.

I learned this the hard way. I filled my tray feeder with sunflower seeds one morning. The doves came first and sat like they owned the place. They cracked seed after seed and left nothing for the small birds. That day I saw how fast a dove can finish a bowl of seeds.

• If you want fewer doves, avoid open trays with sunflower seeds in the shell.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Stop Mourning Doves From Eating Bird Seed?

Use feeders designed for small birds and place seeds in mesh feeders to limit dove access.

What Type Of Bird Feeder Keeps Mourning Doves Away?

Tube feeders with small perches discourage larger birds like mourning doves from landing.

Does Changing Bird Seed Type Help Repel Mourning Doves?

Yes, using safflower or nyjer seeds can reduce mourning dove visits.

Can Physical Barriers Prevent Mourning Doves At Feeders?

Yes, adding cages or baffles around feeders blocks doves from reaching seeds.

Is Feeder Placement Important To Keep Mourning Doves Away?

Yes, placing feeders away from open spaces and low branches helps deter doves.

Conclusion

Keeping mourning doves away from your bird feeder is possible with simple steps. Use feeders designed to limit dove access. Choose seeds that doves do not like. Place feeders in spots doves avoid. Regularly clean your feeder to discourage doves.

Watch for changes and adjust your methods. These actions help protect your feeder for other birds. Enjoy watching a variety of birds visit your yard. Small efforts bring peaceful and bird-friendly spaces.