White-winged dove
We were sitting outside on our patio the other night enjoying the late afternoon when I noticed several White-winged Doves in our Mesquite Tree. I wanted to take some pictures but by the time I got the camera and returned outside, most, if not all, had flown away.
OK, I know. It’s a bad picture and I don’t even think it’s a WW Dove at all, so don’t even comment about my ignorance of ornithology. At least he didn’t poop in my hand!
If you want to see what one really looks like, go here.
I read that these doves, or at least some of them, are migratory, wintering in Mexico and Central America. Well, guess what? If they did migrate, they are back and mating.
They are messy nest builders and even though I enjoy almost all kinds of wildlife, we have enough doves, thank you!
I wonder if they taste like quail?
December 29th, 2005 at 10:05 am
As a boy (many, many years ago), I visited my grandmother often. Several of my uncles lived close to her and they all loved to ‘bird hunt.’ After a hunt, they would bring ‘extra’ birds to my grandmother would would dress and fry them. I had dove many a time and it did taste like quail.
December 29th, 2005 at 11:48 am
I see Mourning Doves, White-winged Doves, Inca Doves, Rock Pigeons, and occasionally Ring-necked Doves (aviary escapees) in my Tucson yard. If the Cooper’s Hawks didn’t keep catching them, my bird feeders would overwhelmed with doves.
December 29th, 2005 at 12:31 pm
Beth, what we need here in Green Valley are more Cooper’s Hawks! I have seen what I thought were falcons swooping downward after a dove.
But we do have some HUGE Harris Hawks in the neighborhood. Here’s one sitting on our front patio wall.
December 29th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
More guys with BB guns would be helpful too!
December 30th, 2005 at 8:53 am
I have seen a few Peregrine Falcons here, and these amazing hunters absolutely adore doves and pigeons.
I would be terrified if I ever saw a bird monster the size of the one on your front patio wall! It could easily carry you away and have you for a snack.