Doves Seed Stockpile

When doves grab seeds off the ground, they are not necessarily eating them. 

 

Picture from All About Birds

Instead of eating them right away, doves will stockpile seeds for digesting later. The seeds collect in the “crop,” which is simply an enlarged part of their esophagus.  Once they’ve filled it, they can fly to a safe perch to digest the meal.

Dense Dove Population

The Mourning Dove is the most widespread and abundant game bird in North America.

 Picture from All About Birds

Every year hunters harvest more than 20 million mourning doves, but the it remains one of the most abundant birds with a U.S. population estimated at 350 million.  They are at least part-time residents throughout the entire continent as well as Central America, and live year-round in most of the United States.