White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
The White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) is a common doves and pigeon found in 35 countries, weighing about 153 g. The white-winged dove is a dove whose native range extends from the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
About the White-winged Dove
The white-winged dove is a dove whose native range extends from the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They are large for doves, and can be distinguished from similar doves by the distinctive white edge on their wings. They have a blue eyering and red eyes. The plumage is brownish-gray to gray. Juveniles are duller in color and have brown eyes. The call is likened to the English phrase "who cooks for you". There are three subspecies. It was first described by George Edwards in 1743, and given its binomial name by Linnaeus in 1756. It was moved into the genus Zenaida in 1838.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Ecuador, Peru, Martinique, St. Lucia.
When to see it
The White-winged Dove can be seen all year round, with peak activity in April. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-winged Dove?
- 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). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-winged Dove?
- The White-winged Dove is a medium sized bird weighing about 153 g.
- Where can you see a White-winged Dove?
- The White-winged Dove occurs in 35 countries, including the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Honduras.
- What birds look similar to a White-winged Dove?
- The White-winged Dove is most easily confused with the Eared Dove, the Zenaida Dove and the West Peruvian Dove.
- Is the White-winged Dove endangered?
- The White-winged Dove is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
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