The reproductive organs begin to enlarge. As spring advances, the birds linger around a suitable nesting habitat of pines, shrubs or vine tangles. Nesting begins in February in the coastal plain and is delayed about a week for each 50 to 100 miles north. The percentage of the population nesting increases rapidly as the days lengthen. Mourning doves nest in rural and suburban areas, but nests tend to be near open areas and are uncommon in the interior of dense woods.
Doves carry little sticks, pine needles, rootless and weed stems to a suitable place on a branch.
They take about a week to make a flimsy nest, which is sometimes so sparse that one can see the eggs through the nest from below.