White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica

Compiled by Lisa S. Graham
Photo credit:  Jeff Timmons, Macaulay Library

White-winged doves became a household word in 1981 for fans of Stevie Nicks and her hit song “Edge of Seventeen”.  This beautiful and shy bird is named for the white stripe that appears at the edge of their folded wing.  On my feeder, they are partial to my classic bird feeder with the roof and wide perch – I’m not sure if it’s the seed or the perch that they like so much.  If I startle one, they all take off with that loud “flap-flap-flap” sound that only doves seem to be able to make, and in their panic, they might collide with a window if one is close by.

The White-winged Dove is easily distinguished from the Mourning Dove by its white wing stripe and the bright blue skin around its eye.  About the size of a robin, these are plump birds with small heads and long, thin bills.  They have a dark line along their cheek and a rounded, square-tipped tail.

Originally desert dwellers, they have adapted to both urban and suburban areas in the southern US.  You’ll find them year-round in Central Texas.  They prefer semi-open areas where they can forage for seeds and grains.  Those that live in the vicinity of giant saguaro cacti eat the cactus’s fruit and are an important pollinator for the plant.  Like many birds, they swallow small stones to help grind plant material in their gizzards.

When ready to mate, the male will court the female by flapping up then gliding down in wide circles.  They will also bow, puff their necks, and fan their tails.  They will mate monogamously for at least the season, and sometimes longer.  The female will build the nest using materials that the males bring – they may nest in colonies if there is a good food source nearby.  The female will lay a clutch of 1-2 eggs that she will incubate for up to 20 days.  Nestlings remain in the nest for anywhere between 13 and 18 days.  Parents feed the young crop milk – an esophageal secretion.

If you want to attract this bird to your feeder, provide a seed mix in an elevated feeder.  They will often arrive in large groups and can clean out a feeder pretty quickly.  They will also forage on the ground and in some instances will visit large flowers to consume nectar.  If you provide a water source, you’ll also be able to witness them sucking and swallowing water without moving their heads – rare in the bird world.

Sources include All About Birds (Cornell) and Audubon Field Guide.