Monday, August 22, 2011

White-Winged Dove

Despite what the bird books may say, these doves are bigger than Mourning Doves. I don't know if there is a great debate about such things, but I've seen some bird books place the Mourning Dove at 12 inches and the White-Winged Dove at 11. I think both numbers are a bit generous, and White-Winged Doves certainly appear bulkier, and also usually win out when wrestling for the best spot on the feeder.


They much prefer the arid regions of the U.S. and Mexico, however, and seldom venture beyond Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California/Nevada. They're common enough on telephone wires in Arizona, but only during the hot months of spring and summer.
Their tails are rounded on the end, unlike the Mourning Dove's, and they shows their namesake white wing-bars when in flight, and along their flank when their wings are folded.

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