Both the eastern and western subspecies breed within Iowa. Sexes are very similar having grayish-brown backs, buff colored undersides, black spots on the wings and behind the eye, and white feathers in the tail which show in flight. Juveniles can be distinguished from adults by light buffing on the tips of the primary coverts which persists until the first molt. Young are indistinguishable from adults by 3 months after hatching. Fall migration begins in late July with early hatched young moving south.
Young doves begin the migration followed by adult females and then adult males.
Iowa s doves winter in the Gulf Coast states and Central Mexico. Reproduction Courtship and mating begin almost as soon as doves return to the state in early March. Doves that survive to breed in more than one nesting season often return to nest in the same tree the following year. First year females show no homing instinct. Doves build flimsy nests of twigs and grass usually placed in trees or shrubs 10-30 feet above the ground.