Their foot structure also makes them poorly adapted to scratching or digging, and food covered by dense top growth, crop stubble, or snow is not available to them. As a rule, doves seek water in midmorning and late evening. They prefer open shorelines at least 30-50 feet wide and without vegetation. A few dead trees at the edge of the pond increases its dove appeal. Nesting Cover and Success Dove nesting habitat varies from open grasslands to trees and shrubs in residential areas.
Doves benefit from conversion of natrual habitats into cultivated areas or pasturelands.
They are especially abundant in fields, orchards or generally weedy areas with many grains or seeds. Mourning doves in Missouri nest primarily in trees and shrubs in residentrual areas. Doves prefer to nest in areas with scattered trees, projections of timber into fields, fence rows or treelined creekbanks. In Missouri, good nesting habitat is fairly low, shrubby trees in fence rows or at forest edges. Conifers are often used for first nests, but are less likely to be used in later nesting attempts.