Stock Dove: Nest & eggs

The Stock Dove is a cavity nester that cannot excavate a hole itself and so depends on ready-made spaces in old trees.

• Nest site: tree holes in older deciduous trees, often abandoned Black Woodpecker holes, and, where needed, larger installed nest boxes.
• Environment: old beech woodland, deciduous forest and estate avenues with hollow, stout trunks near open ground.
• Nest lining: a very sparse base of twigs and straws deep down in the cavity, where 2 eggs are laid.

Because the species is so tied to hole-bearing trees, it benefits directly from old, hollow deciduous and pasture trees being left standing.

More about the Stock Dove

• Song & calls
• Breeding
• Diet
• In winter