Bird Guide

White-winged Dove vs Zenaida Dove

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)

White-winged Dove

Zenaida asiatica

Medium153 gShrubland

White-winged doves are a plump, medium-sized bird (large for a dove), at 29 cm (11 in) from tip to tail, and a weight of 150 g (5.3 oz). Wingspan ranges from 18.9 to 22.8 in (48–58 cm). They are brownish-gray above and gray below, with a bold white wing patch that appears as a brilliant white crescent in flight, and is also visible at rest. Adults have a ring of blue, featherless skin around each eye and a long, dark mark on the lower face. They have a blue eye ring, and their legs and feet are brighter pink/red. Their eyes are bright crimson, except for juveniles, who have brown eyes. Voice: David Sibley describes the call as a hhhHEPEP pou poooo, likening it to the English phrase "who cooks for you". They also make a pep pair pooa paair pooa paair pooa call, with the last two words being repeated at length. Males sit on dedicated perches to give their call, which is referred to as a "coo". Calling is most frequent during the breeding season, and peaks in May and June.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: SearchNet Media · CC BY 2.0
Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita)

Zenaida Dove

Zenaida aurita

Medium156 gForest

The Zenaida dove is approximately 28–30 cm (11–12 in) in length. It looks very similar to the mourning dove, but is smaller in size, has a shorter, more rounded tail, and is a bit more darkly colored. It is also distinguished from the mourning dove by showing white on the trailing edge of its wings while in flight. The mourning dove does not have the white trailing edge.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: ImagePerson · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: White-winged Dove and Zenaida Dove.