page_title: White-winged dove
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: White-winged dove / Description
caption_attribution_description: Zenaida asiatica English: A White-winged Dove on Galveston Island, Galveston, Texas, USA.
context_page_description: The white-winged dove is a dove whose native range extends from the south-western United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
context_section_description: White-winged doves are a plump medium sized bird (large for a dove), at 29 cm (11 in) from tip to tail and a mass of 150 g (5.3 oz). They are brownish-gray above and gray below, with a bold white wing patch that appears as a brilliant white crescent in flight and is also visible at rest. Adults have a patch of blue, featherless skin around each eye and a long, dark mark on the lower face. They have a blue eye ring and their legs and feet are brighter pink/red. Their eyes are bright crimson, except for juveniles who have brown eyes. Juveniles are duller and grayer than adults and lack iridescence. Juvenile plumage is usually found between March and October. 
  Differentiating between sexes is difficult, and usually requires examination of the cloaca. Males do have a more iridescent purple color to the crown, neck and nape as well as a more distinctive ear spot, though the differences are slight. Males are usually heavier on average, but differences in daily weight due to feeding make this an inaccurate field tool. Thus most observers cannot accurately differentiate between sexes based on external characteristics alone.
  The identifying hallmark is its namesake white edged wing, which similar species lack. It appears similar to the mourning dove, with which it may be easily confused. Compared to the mourning dove, it is larger and heavier. It has a short rounded tail, whereas the mourning dove has a long, tapered triangular tail. The mourning dove has several black spots on the wing; the white winged dove does not. Other similar species include the white-tipped dove, but the lack of white wing edging is distinctive. The same goes for the invasive Eurasian collared dove, which is further differentiated by grayish overall color and black neck band.
  Their molt is similar to that of the mourning dove. Molting runs June through November, and occurs in the summer breeding grounds unless interrupted by migration.
caption: In Texas
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