Scientific name: Zenaida asiatica
Size:
They measure 11 to 12.5 inches (28 to 32 cm) in length, possess a wingspan of 19 to 23 inches (48 to 58 cm), and weigh between 4.5 and 6.5 ounces (125 to 187 grams).
White-winged Doves are very common birds in our backyard. The Mourning Doves outnumber them, but White-winged Doves are a close second. Their coloring is either brownish or gray. They have very noticable white tipped wings, bright blue eye-shadow and bright orange or red eyes. When they are in flight, their white wings are more prominent.
Diet:
They are frequent visitors to our bird feeder and eat sunflower seeds and millet. In the wild, they eat seeds from desert willows, ocotillo, agave, as well as cacti fruit. They can fly up to 25 miles in the Sonoran Desert to look for water, plus get moisture from Saguaro cactus fruits.
Range:
White-winged Doves have been seen as far north as Alaska, Maine and Ontario Canada, but are mostly found in the Southwest.
A White-winged Dove in our backyard tree.
Nesting:
A female finds a location to build a nest such in vines, in thick desert brush, a clump of cactus or a tree limb. She builds a nest out of sticks that the male bird will bring to her. They are known to use their nest from a prior year, or they will reuse a nest from another bird. They are not monogamous for life, but more likely to stay together for breeding season.
Sounds:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-winged_Dove/sounds
I follow a blogger “Circadianreflections” who just mentioned it is snake season. I haven’t met any while working outdoors lately. How about in your yard? We have some stray cats that might chase them away.
I haven’t seen any snakes, but they are supposed to be out there.
They hide well. Either that or the cats got them. Here, we memorize, ‘red on yellow, kill a fella’ for coral snake. Mike says if you can see it, it can kill you. (Joke). Some are good for the garden. I work early morning as the day gets hot and hotter.
Scary! I am not a snake fan. On the Next Door website I see multiple photos of rattlesnakes. I’ve seen one baby dead one on our driveway. We or someone else must have run over it. I have two friends I used to work with who moved here in 2010 and 2008. They told me to never reach for anything on the ground without looking first! That goes for gardening too.
I wish we had that species. I now also have the Stevie Nicks song “Edge of Seventeen” on repeat in my head… 🙂
Me too! That’s a great song.
Every time I hear “white winged dove” I think of the Stevie Nicks song Edge of Seventeen.
😊
That song has been in my head while I took the photos and made the blog post.
So pretty closeup! I love learning about all the birds.
I’m glad you enjoy the photos and the info. I only have a couple birds left for this challenge.
Feeling the same as Deb and Rivergirl! I immediately thought of the song, “Edge of Seventeen”! 💝
Believe me I’ve singing it since I put together this post! 💕
So good!!!! ❤️😉❤️
😊
Xo! 😘
💕
The white wing doves are so abundant. Love the photos!
Thanks! I’m glad you like the photos.
The blue eye shadow is so remarkable! Thanks, Elizabeth!
I have two White-winged Doves out my window now. Without my telephoto lens, you can’t even see the blue eye shadow. They look all gray.
Great photos, Elizabeth! Hi from Michigan. 😊
Thanks! Wonderful you arrived safe and sound.
A pretty dove. I played the call and the Peaceful Doves here paid no attention
Isn’t it interesting to see how our birds react to calls around the world?
That’s a bird I’ve never seen. That patch of bright blue bare skin around the orange-red eyes is very noticeable. Don’t forget the pink legs. Leg colour sometimes turns out to be a great help in id. Here I guess that white on the wing allows you to tell it easily from the mourning doves.
Beautiful and thank you.