3Rd Dove Showing Up Intermittently.

[flobadob]

For the past few years a pair of collared doves have been feeding at the rear of our house. However, every now and again, another full size dove appears. When this happens there is always a bit of chasing and bullying between them to push one dove away from the food.

After a while there are two doves again and they appear to be friendly towards each other and don't chase each other away from the food.

Does anyone know why the third dove shows up. I'm not sure if it is a mating rival or even an offspring of the two regular doves.

[wildwood]

It could very well be a young one from that pair. When a squab leaves the nest and is still fed for another couple of weeks until the youngster has learned to pick up food itself and fly confidently. Once feeding has stopped, the youngster is seen as a rival for the pair's food source and so they will hustle it because they will be building themselves up for the coming breeding season..

[nerwby]

I get six or seven at a time. Have had12. There is always a "bully" among them.