Bird
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiaticaAlso known as White-winged Turtle Dove, Paloma Alas Blancas, Sonoran Dove
White-winged Doves are gregarious seed-eaters famously synchronized with the blooming and fruiting of saguaro cacti across southwestern deserts. Groups flock in large numbers to feed on cactus fruit and grain fields, announcing their presence with rhythmic hooting calls reminiscent of a distant owl. During the breeding season, pairs build flimsy stick platforms in trees or cacti, raising multiple broods on protein-rich crop milk produced by both parents.
GranivoreDesert NativeUrban Tolerant
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preySaguaro Fruit Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, Sorghum
Predators
- Cooper's Hawk
- Great Horned Owl
- Domestic Cat
ThreatsHabitat degradation, regulated hunting, suburban window collisions
HabitatsDeserts, arid scrub, suburban parks, agricultural areas
Life span10–15 years
Classification
- OrderColumbiformes
- FamilyColumbidae
- GenusZenaida
- SpeciesZenaida asiatica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Feeding Stations: Place mixed seeds or sunflower chips on low platform feeders to attract visiting flocks.
- Listening: Listen for their distinct four-note call during early morning hours in suburban yards or desert scrub.
- Observing Flocks: Watch overhead during mid-morning when groups fly in straight lines between roosting and feeding sites.
Competitor stevem4560 / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Symbiont WClarke / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Paul Danese, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Co-occurring Relative (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning · cc-by
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Found in Collections
Species set
Urban Dwellers
White-winged Dove is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
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