Doves, such as the ringed turtle dove, can change direction quickly in flight. They are extremely swift and can fly at 45 to 50 mph, according to the Cosley Zoo website. Doves have extremely refined navigational abilities. They use magnetic tissues within their heads that help them to detect the Earth's magnetic field, which helps them to determine flight path direction. Because of their navigational abilities, doves and pigeons were often used as messengers throughout history, especially in times of war.
Mourning doves, which typically live in North America, overpopulate within the South in the winter. They migrate south, due to their water requirements and their feeding habits. Doves, a columbid species, do not adapt well to winter weather. Migration begins for mourning doves around mid-August. The urge to migrate, called the Zugunruhe, is typically a response to photoperiod, but it could be related to weather conditions or hormone levels, according to Alexandra Greer in an article on the Davidson College website.
Doves in captivity enjoy warm water, about the temperature of your bath water. Doves need access to clean water at all times, so changing their water several times a day is vital. Doves dehydrate extremely easily. Dove owners must keep an eye on their water. If the water becomes contaminated, it must be changed immediately. In the Sonoran Desert, white-winged doves are able to obtain moisture from saguaro cactus fruit. These doves can fly 25 miles or more to find appropriate moisture. High water requirements prompt the mourning doves to drink in flocks at night.
A female dove selects its habitats carefully, especially when preparing a place to build its nest. It will choose a tangle of vines or a tree limb or a clump of cactus. The male brings sticks or grasses, and the female dove builds the nest from those items. White-winged doves that live in the desert nest in large shrubs, oak woods or cholla cactus plants. The pygmy ground dove is found mostly in Mexico and South America. Mourning doves live in a wide range of habitats, from grassland farms to woods. Doves have adapted to the urban areas by choosing habitats that offer safety from predators such as snakes, falcons and other birds of prey.