5 Best Bird Feeders for Doves & Mourning Doves in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on Jan 03 2024

Doves and Mourning Doves are some of the most common birds populating the backyards of the United States, often viewed as harbingers of love, hope, and peace. For many, Doves’ signature “coo” call is a comforting and unmistakable lullaby. As a result, Doves and Mourning Doves are welcome inhabitants of American yards and forests.

If you want to attract one of these docile and friendly birds, you must make your home as friendly and welcoming to them as possible. Birds in the Dove family love water, so setting out a birdbath is a great start. However, as Doves primarily forage for food along the ground, they typically aren’t attracted to hanging bird feeders. By installing unsuitable bird feeders, many people unknowingly discourage these beautiful Doves from visiting them in the first place.

To save you time, effort, and money, we’ve compiled this list of our favorite Dove and Mourning Dove feeders. Additionally, we’ve meticulously combed through various customer reviews and online forums to offer you a comprehensive view of the best bird feeders for every taste and price range. We hope that this list will help you get acquainted with the various bird feeder options available and help you make an informed decision when purchasing your next bird feeder.

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024)

	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Woodlink Audubon 3 in 1 Platform Feeder	Can be hung, pole-mounted, or stood on collapsible legs Powder-coated screen resists rust Holds 3 pounds of food	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Solution4Patio White Swing Bird Feeder	Handcrafted and durable Rust-resistant aluminum hinges Easy to clean	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		DutchCrafters Large Covered Ground Bird Feeder	Lots of color options Stainless steel hardware prevents rusting Resistant to cracking, fading, and splitting	CHECK PRICE
		Gray Bunny Ground Bird Feeder Tray	Compact Raised edges prevent messes Easy to clean	CHECK PRICE
		JCs Wildlife Ground Bird Feeder with Removable Tray	Open design for easy viewing Wide selection of colors Large capacity	CHECK PRICE

The 5 Best Bird Feeders

1. Woodlink Audubon 3 in 1 Platform Feeder – Best Overall

The best overall Dove and Mourning Dove feeder is the Woodlink Audubon NAPLAT2 3-in-1 Platform Feeder capable of being mounted in various positions. With this feeder’s many attachments, you can hang it, mount it to a pole, or stand it on its collapsible legs. The feeder’s durable cedar construction allows it to last for years and elevate your backyard with a touch of rustic elegance. This bird feeder also features a powder-coated metal mesh tray, which is resistant to rust and encourages proper drainage and air circulation. Another great perk of this feeder is its capacity, which can hold up to 3 pounds of food. The only downside is that it isn’t squirrel resistant.

2. Solution4Patio White Swing Bird Feeder – Best Value

The best Dove and Mourning Dove feeder for the money is Solution4Patio’s White Swing Bird Feeder. This handcrafted and durable bird feeder is made of natural varnished wood, weather-resistant plated deck screws, and rust-resistant hinges, allowing it to last for years. The open, decorative design simultaneously enables you to have an excellent view of visiting birds while adding visual interest to your porch.

This bird feeder provides an unbeatable value, especially considering how easy it is to clean and fill. The sturdy mesh bottom of this model is also exceptional as it promotes drainage, prevents the buildup of moisture and mold, and allows bird droppings to fall away from the food. If you aren’t satisfied with this bird feeder, Solution4Patio even provides a 3-year warranty to put your mind at ease. The downside is that the bird feeder swings easily in the wind, meaning that you may lose some of the bird seed this way.

3. DutchCrafters Large Covered Ground Bird Feeder – Premium Choice

The DutchCrafters Large Covered Ground Bird Feeder is the premium choice for attracting Doves and Mourning Doves to your property. Although this option is more expensive than its competitors, this model’s durable poly wood construction enables it to last for a lifetime. The raised feeding platform is also fitted with a lightweight aluminum mesh that promotes drainage and air circulation, while the covered roof provides protection against the elements.

This relatively low-maintenance bird feeder also appeals to the eco-conscious as it is crafted with recycled plastic material, making it easy to clean and maintain. The stainless-steel hardware used on this bird feeder is also resistant to rust, allowing it to stay in a like-new condition even under harsh weather conditions. As a bonus, this bird feeder comes fully assembled and is available in various color options suitable for every taste. The only downside is the price, which is why this feeder is listed as our premium choice.

4. Gray Bunny Ground Bird Feeder Tray

The Gray Bunny Ground Bird Feeder Tray is a durable, practical, and minimal option for bird lovers. This bird feeder will encourage a wide variety of birds, including Doves, to visit due to its deep tray capable of holding multiple types of food. Additionally, this bird feeder features two curved steel bars, balancing the tray and providing a perch for visiting birds.

This model’s elevated wire mesh construction also keeps bird food fresh by draining water and promoting airflow. With a steel construction and a rust-resistant coating, this humble but durable bird feeder can withstand almost all weather conditions. Furthermore, this bird feeder is super easy to clean, requiring a simple hose-off to clean it of muck and grime. If this model doesn’t work out for you, Gray Bunny even offers an excellent 30-day money-back guarantee. It is a bit smaller than other bird feeders, however,

5. JCs Wildlife Ground Bird Feeder with Removable Tray

Last on the list of the best Dove and Mourning Dove bird feeders is the sleek JCs Wildlife Removable Tray Ground Bird Feeder. This model features a durable and weather-resistant poly lumber construction complete with a removable tray, making cleaning and maintenance a breeze. The tray is also fairly sizable, holding up to 8 cups of bird food.

The open design of this model also makes it easy to see your favorite ground-feeding birds, providing you with endless entertainment from the comfort of your own backyard. This product also comes in multiple colorways, ensuring there is a suitable and stylish design for every taste. The downside is that this bird feeder has poor drainage, allowing the mesh tray to clog easily.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Bird Feeder for Doves and Mourning Doves

To attract a specific bird species, you must understand their behavior and meet their basic food, water, and shelter needs. Doves, in particular, make delightful backyard guests and are relatively easy to attract. Most Doves share the same needs, so purchasing the right bird feeder can lure a diverse population of Doves to your home. Doves are primarily granivorous, meaning their diet consists mostly of seeds and grain. Therefore, a bird feeder stocked with their favorite snacks such as sunflower seeds, millet, milo, and cracked corn is sure to attract these peaceful birds.

Doves forage most of their food from the ground, so they prefer feeding on a large stable tray or platform feeder. Although hanging feeders may attract some Doves, they prefer more stable options on which they don’t need to balance delicately. Therefore, the best bird feeder for Doves is ground-based, with ample room for perching, mingling, and foraging.

Factors to Consider

Before buying a bird feeder, you should look for several indicators of quality. Above all, the bird feeder you buy should be easy to fill, empty, and clean. This discourages the growth of mold and bacteria and encourages local birds to keep visiting it. If you don’t want your bird feeder to be raided by squirrels, you should also look for reinforced metal around the feeding ports.

As bird feeders spend the majority of their time outside, they should also be made of or coated with weather-resistant materials. Popular bird feeder materials include steel, poly lumber, plastic, and wood that has been stained to protect it against moisture.

Attracting Doves to Your Yard

To encourage Doves to stay on your property, you should ensure your bird feeder is out of the reach of common predators such as house cats. To make your bird feeder extra cozy and attract more birds, a water source such as a birdbath makes an excellent addition. Moreover, adding nest boxes, birdhouses, and native plants to your backyard can encourage Doves to stick around and raise their young near your home.

Conclusion

In summary, the best overall bird feeder for Doves and Mourning Doves was found to be Audubon’s 3-in-1 Woodlink Bird Feeder. This option is cost-effective, versatile, and holds a significant amount of bird food. What made this option stand out to us is its various mounting capabilities, which allow you to hang, mount, or stand the feeder on its collapsible legs.

The model that is the best value, however, was found to be Solution4Patio’s White Swing Bird Feeder. This moderately priced option checks almost all the boxes, with a stylish yet functional design, durable construction, large capacity, extensive warranty, and ease of cleaning.

Installing a bird feeder is a great way to attract wild birds to your patio, deck, rooftop, or backyard.  You can easily lure your favorite feathered friends to your home by filling the right bird feeder with attractive food, including popular Doves and Mourning Doves. We hope that the information and reviews in this list has given you a closer look at your options and has enabled you to make an educated, informed decision on your next bird feeder purchase.