# White-winged Dove

Scientific name: Zenaida asiatica

Bird group: [dove](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/dove)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/70/White-winged-Dove

## Identification

The white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica) is a dove whose native range extends from the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. They are large for doves, and can be distinguished from similar doves by the distinctive white edge on their wings. They have a blue eyering, and red eyes. The plumage is brownish-gray to gray. Juveniles are duller in color, and have brown eyes. The call is likened to English phrase "who cooks for you". There are three subspecies. It was first described by George Edwards in 1743, and given its binomial name by Linnaeus in 1756. It was moved into the genus Zenaida in 1838.


## Distribution and habitat

The White-winged Dove occurs through southern North 
America, Central America, and 
western South America (Bond 
1961, Raffaele and others 1998). 
In the West Indies, it can be 
found in The Bahamas, Cuba, 
Jamaica, Hispaniola, the Cayman 
Islands, San Andrés, Providencia, 
Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. John 
(Raffaele and others 1998), and 
St. Thomas. The species was first 
recorded on Puerto Rico in 1943 
(Raffaele 1989a) and has since 
expanded its range throughout 
the island. It first occurred on 
Vieques in 1971 (Sorrié 1975) 
where it is now an abundant breeding resident (Gemmill 
2015). This species occurs 
mostly in gardens, agricultural 
areas, mangroves, dry scrub 
forest (Oberle 2018), and open 
woodlands (Raffaele and others 
1998, Saliva 1994). The atlas 
fieldwork yielded a total of 966 
records within 412 hexagons 
or 86 percent of the 479 total 
hexagons (see map). Of the 412 
hexagons where this species 
was found, breeding met the 
atlas definition of confirmed in 
20 percent (82) of the hexagons, 
probable in 39 percent (162), 
and possible in 41 percent (168) 
(see map). White-winged Dove distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.       61White-winged Dove/Tórtola Aliblanca

## Breeding

Previously published reports indicate that the White-winged 
Dove breeds throughout the year 
in urban areas and from April 
to June in arid zones (Raffaele 
and others 1998). It mostly 
breeds colonially and builds 
a frail nest made of twigs and 
grasses, usually placed at a low 
to moderate height (Raffaele and 
others 1998). Atlas results show 
that this species breeding season 
extends throughout the year with 
the most breeding activity from 
March to June (see chart). The 
breeding activity peaks in May 
at the onset of the rainy season, and it mostly takes place in the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(see chart). Results show that this 
species breeds mostly within the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(60 percent of the hexagons) 
(see table). It also breeds in the 
subtropical dry forest life zone 
(21 percent of the hexagons) 
and at higher elevations within 
the subtropical wet and lower 
montane wet forest life zones (19 
percent of the hexagons) (see 
table and map).

## Conservation

The current population trend of the White-winged Dove is described as increasing in North 
America (Butcher and Niven 
2007). This species is currently 
listed as a species of Least 
concern by the IUCN (BirdLife 
International 2016). Locally, 
this species is not listed in any 
of the threatened categories of 
PRDNER and USFWS. In Puerto 
Rico, the White-winged Dove has 
a protected habitat in land of 12 
percent or 1230 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons 
where evidence of breeding 
was found for this species 
(9853 km2). 

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_070_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_070_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.