# FIRST RECORD OF WHITE-WINGED DOVE (ZENAIDA ASIATICA) ON NEVIS

JULIAN FRANCIS

Tolpuddle Manor, Tolpuddle, Dorset DT2 7EW, England; e-mail: jef100@hotmail.co.uk

**Abstract:** The White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) is rapidly expanding its range in the Lesser Antilles. On Nevis I observed six on 16 February and three on 17 February 2011, providing the first records for the island.

**Key words:** Lesser Antilles, Nevis, range expansion, White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiatica

**Resumen:** PRIMER REGISTRO DE LA PALOMA ALIBLANCA (ZENAIDA ASIATICA) EN NEVIS. La Paloma Aliblanca (Zenaida asiatica) está expandiendo rápidamente su rango en las Antillas Menores. En Nevis observé 6 el 16 de febrero y 3 el 17 de febrero de 2011, siendo los primeros registros para la isla.

**Palabras clave:** Antillas Menores, expansión de rango, Nevis, Paloma Aliblanca, Zenaida asiatica

**Résumé :** PREMIÈRES DONNÉES DE TOURTERELLE À AILES BLANCHES (ZENAIDA ASIATICA) SUR NEVIS. L'aire de répartition de la Tourterelle à ailes blanches (Zenaida asiatica) est en pleine expansion dans les Petites Antilles. Les premières observations de l'espèce sur l'île ont été réalisées le 16 février 2011 (6 individus) et le 17 février 2011 (3 individus).

**Mots clés :** Expansion de l'aire de répartition, Nevis, Petites Antilles, Tourterelle à ailes blanches, Zenaida asiatica

Larsen and Levesque (2008) reported on the rapid range expansion of White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) in the Lesser Antilles, where it has appeared on Saba (1992), St. Martin (1999), Anguilla (2000), Barbuda (2005), Dominica (2005), Guadeloupe (2005), and Antigua (2006). There are no previously published reports from Nevis (Hilder 1989, Larsen and Levesque 2008).

On 16 February 2011, I was bird watching at the Bogs (between Charlestown and Fort Charles) on the west coast of the island. The Bogs is an area of degraded freshwater lagoon surrounded by scrubland and houses with gardens. I saw two doves fly over which were greyer and slightly larger than Zenaida Doves (Zenaida aurita). On relocating them perched in a garden, I could see white in the closed wing, red eyes and feet, a blue patch around

the eye, and a small black mark on the neck. Identification as White-winged Doves was confirmed when they flew and the white wing-bars became obvious. I saw a maximum of six birds that day perched together on the telephone wires between the Bogs and Bath village. On 17 February I also saw three birds fly over the scrubland behind Pinney's Beach to the north of Charlestown. This appears to be the first record for Nevis.

## LITERATURE CITED

LARSEN, N. J., AND A. LEVESQUE. 2008. Range expansion of White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) in the Lesser Antilles. Journal of Caribbean Ornithology 21:61-65.

HILDER, P. 1989. The birds of Nevis. Nevis Historical and Conservation Society, Nevis.