The White-winged Dove is a common and widespread species in Arizona, especially in desert regions dominated by saguaro cacti. These medium-sized doves, with their soft gray-brown plumage, white wing patches visible in flight, and distinctive cooing calls, are a familiar sound of summer across much of the state. They arrive in large numbers from Mexico and Central America during spring migration, usually in April, to breed in Arizona’s deserts, woodlands, and urban areas. Their nesting season coincides with the blooming of the saguaro cactus, whose flowers and fruits provide an essential food source, along with mesquite and other native seeds. White-winged Doves often form large flocks and are highly adaptable, frequenting agricultural lands, suburbs, and city parks as readily as desert habitats. While many migrate southward again in late summer, a growing number of individuals now overwinter in southern Arizona, particularly in urban environments where food is abundant. Their abundance, adaptability, and cultural association with the desert Southwest make Zenaida asiatica one of Arizona’s most recognizable and iconic birds.
