White-winged Doves

The White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiatica, is the most common dove seen at the ranch. It resembles a Mourning Dove but is distinguished from them by the white line along its wings, its slightly smaller size, and shorter, more rounded tail. The White-wing has red legs, blue eye rings, orange irises, and a black crescent shape on its cheek.


It's all about the food... White-winged doves spend most of the day foraging for food. They can eat up to 11% of their body weight in berries, acorns, fruit and grain. Unlike most bird species, these doves use their beaks like a straw (vs. tipping the head back and letting water trickle down the throat).

White-winged Doves almost always forage on the ground . It is unusual to see one at the feeder.


Pigeons and doves are actually the same bird, both part of the Columbidae family. The pigeons seen in urban areas are usually Rock Doves. A group of doves is called a "bevy", "cote", "dole", "dule", and "flight" of doves.

The call of the White-winged dove is made up of two parts: a harsh coo-uh-CUCK-oo and a "who-cooks-for-YOU".


White-winged Dove population estimates in Texas were 4-12 million in the early 1900's due to the introduction of irrigation and grain farming to the Lower Rio Grands Valley. But, by 1939 their population had declined to about 500,000 due to the destruction of 90% of its critical nesting habitat by continued intensive farming and heavy hunting. The range of the White-winged Dove dramatically increased during the 1980's when citrus groves in the LRGV (which had become a major nesting area) were decimated by killing freezes. Many of the citrus groves were never replaced. The current population of White-winged Doves in Texas is estimated at well over one million.