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Using a long‐term banding data set of white‐winged doves from across Texas collected by TPWD from 2007–2016, our objectives were to 1) estimate after‐hatch‐year (AHY) white‐winged dove primary feather molt rate and initiation, and 2) estimate hatch chronology to address the overarching question of how primary feather 2of10 | HALL ET AL.
White-winged Doves feed on a variety of seeds, grain, and fruit that vary depending on their range and seasonal availability. They consume seeds and fruits of wild trees, grasses, and herbaceous plants, as well as those of ornamental cultivars.
White-winged Doves often eat at elevated bird feeders. They’re fond of seeds, including sunflower, milo, corn, safflower, and they may also eat berries from shrubs. White-winged Doves sometimes fly into windows when startled, so it’s important to make sure your windows are bird-safe.
White-winged doves are gregarious birds and often feed in large flocks. They may also practice collaborative feeding. Observations in Texas revealed that some birds were shaking seeds from a Chinese tallow tree for the benefit of those on the ground.
White-winged doves are granivorous, feeding on a variety of seeds, grains, and fruits. Western white-winged doves ( Z. a. mearnsii ) migrate into the Sonoran Desert to breed during the hottest time of the year because they feed on pollen and nectar, and later on the fruits and seeds of the saguaro.
A national banding program was initiated in 2003 to improve our understanding of mourning dove population biology and to help estimate the effect of harvest on mourning dove populations. Doves are banded in July and August in most of the lower 48 states.
Feeds on seeds of many wild plants, also some cultivated grains; may eat acorns where available. Feeds on fruits, especially those of cactus, also smaller berries. Will come to large flowers, apparently for nectar.
