Old Blue Eyes!
While this is definitely not Frank Sinatra, there is no mistaking the prominent blue eye ring on the White-winged Dove.
Birds of the World provides the following description:
“Medium-sized, rather heavy-bodied and square-tailed dove (length about 29 cm; mass about 150 g). Adult coloration mainly grayish brown, with prominent white wing-patch across outer wing coverts (not including primary coverts) contrasting with blackish upper surface of flight feathers (remiges) and visible when wing folded or spread. Under wing with medium-gray coverts and brown remiges. Black streak across lower ear coverts. Tail rather square-tipped to slightly rounded; central rectrices brown, lateral rectrices with broad white tips subtended by narrow black band and gray bases. Feet bright pinkish-red in adults, becoming more brilliant during breeding season. Bare skin surrounding eyes bright blue. Iris bright orange. Juveniles resemble adults but lack black cheek-patch, feet dull reddish brown, head smaller, and iris brown to light orange. See Appearance: molts and plumage, below.”
This species is a breeding resident of Anguilla but has become more widespread.
“This large, semitropical dove ranges from the southernmost U.S. and Mexico (where it is partially migratory) south through Central America and much of the West Indies. In the United States, the White-winged Dove occurred historically only in the southern regions of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Prior to the 1980s, its area of greatest abundance and density was the lower Rio Grande valley of South Texas, where it was a popular game species. Since that time, however, the species has expanded its range north-ward and can now be found breeding throughout much of the southern United States, as far north as Oklahoma. A growing human population in the southern United States during the final decades of the twentieth century brought increased agriculture and ornamental trees, providing additional feeding and nesting habitat for the species and perhaps contributing to its northward expansion.”
To prepare the nest, the female arranges twigs and grasses provided by the male in trees. Two cream-colored eggs are laid in the nest bowl. The eggs are incubated for 15 to 17 days and hatch 24 hours apart in the morning.
Both parents brood the chicks in the first week, and feeding is as follows:
“Both adults feed milky secretion formed in crop glands (“crop milk”), as in other columbids. First feeding, usually by female, occurs soon after hatching and may last >1 h. Continuously feed during first day. Adult feeds young simultaneously by holding nestlings' bills in corners of mouth, slowly administering food by pumping action in an up-and-down motion. Nestlings swallow instinctively. First-day feedings may contain fruit pulp and soft seeds. By 3–4 d, feedings contain foods more similar to adult diet.”
The chicks fledge between 13 and 18 days and stay within the nest site area for another 14 days.
I was lucky to capture two newly fledged chicks in the photo above on Long Pond IBA. Note that one chick is bigger than the other, illustrating the growth and development described by Birds of the World:
“First-hatched nestling always larger than second-hatched nestling. A single nestling in a nest develops more rapidly than 2 nestlings together (Cottam and Trefethen 1968).”
Unlike our National Bird, the Zenaida Dove, which travels alone or in pairs, White-winged Doves tend to travel in large flocks. It is not unusual to see groups of 10 or more birds flying together.
Living on the eastern part of the island, I see large groups moving between Shoal Bay and Scrub Island. This uninhabited offshore cay is a favored location for these birds.
Most doves can’t resist hanging out on the electric wires in the early morning and late afternoon. The White-winged is no exception. They often join Zenaida Doves in Island Harbour, Sandy Ground, and West End.
The White-winged Dove becomes more active starting in May. It’s a good time to add them to your life list!