The story begins in Missouri each March when mourning doves migrate to natal areas from the previous year. Males begin establishing breeding territories by calling from exposed branches in dead trees or even utility lines.
Doves are strongly monogamous.
Following courtship in April, males select the nest site and mated pairs begin nest construction. Two or three twigs placed on horizontal tree branches constitute a nest. Doves sometimes use old robin or bluebird nests as their own, and in areas dominated by grasslands, doves will nest on the ground. The male dove is very attentive and actively praticipates during nesting. He not only chases away fival males, but he helps the female perform such domestic duties as incubating the eggs and feeding the squabs.