Neighborhood Doves

As I write this in early November the weather has cooled off and then gotten warm again! And many of our winter resident birds are returning to the neighborhood. Up in the trees there are mixed species foraging flocks of small songbirds gleaning insects from the leaves and branches. Right now these flocks include Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Blue-headed Vireos, Orange-crowned Warblers, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Soon I expect to see a few Pine Warblers and Brown Creepers join them. Some of our year-round residents are also in these flocks, like Carolina Chickadee, Bewick's Wren, Black-crested Titmouse, and Downy Woodpecker. The best way to find these flocks is to slowly walk down some of our heavily treed streets in the early or middle morning. Look for small movements up in the leaves and listen for soft chip notes. Sooner or later your path will cross with one of these cool groups of little birds.

Continuing my goal of describing our local birds that are easy to see, this article is about doves. Doves are a world-wide and easily recognized family of birds. They are usually plump-bodied, relatively small-headed, and fly fast and strong in direct lines. In our neighborhood we have White-winged Doves, Mourning Doves, and Inca Doves.

White-winged Doves are the single most numerous species of bird in our neighborhood and I see them everywhere. Almost every time I go out I see 100 or more individuals. In the mornings I see flocks flying north over my house and in the evenings I see flocks flying south. I think this is a local daily movement to and from Lake Creek to drink and feed. (I'd love to hear from someone who lives on the north side of Lake Creek who has seen similar daily movements in the opposite directions.) White-winged Doves are the largest of our three doves and are named for their striking white wing patches which are easily seen when in flight. These white patches are also visible when the birds are perched, as strong white leading edges to their folded wings. And their squared off tails have broad white bands. White-winged doves eat mostly seed and fruit and occasionally insects. They feed on the ground or in trees or on elevated feeders.

These doves were not always so numerous. In fact, they are recent arrivals to Austin in the last 20 years or so. Historically, White-winged Doves were a Mexican species whose range only extended into the most southern parts of Texas. Starting in the 1920s, this south Texas population fluctuated greatly with heavy hunting and huge changes made to the area for farming and ranching. Soon a serious decline began as most habitat was lost to clearing for agriculture. Some thought that by the end of the century this bird would no longer occur in the state. But in the 1970's White-wings had started a northward expansion closely tied to human settlements. Much is unknown about this expansion, but it is likely that the birds are taking advantage of backyard bird feeders for food and of municipal runoff for water. They have also started nesting and roosting in ornamental trees common in suburban areas. Most interesting is that these new suburban populations have become largely non-migratory. Now White-wings range throughout most of the southern United States and their northward expansion is continuing, providing a unique opportunity for research.

Mourning Doves are a slightly smaller dove with a long pointed tail and dark spots on the backs of their wings visible when perched. I see these doves mostly on the creek and around the Town and Country playing fields. But occasionally I see a pair fly over my house. In flight the long pointed tail is the best way to distinguish them from White-wings. Also their wings make a distinct whistling sound when they first take off. When perched, the lack of the white wing patch is the easiest way to tell them apart. Mourning Doves are an incredibly successful and adaptable species that has been recorded in every county of Texas and throughout the United States. They breed in all but the coldest parts of the state all year long. The eat seed almost exclusively and usually feed on the ground. In suburban areas they may have been somewhat displaced by White-wings in the last few decades but not much is currently known about this.

Inca Doves are our smallest and least common neighborhood dove. I see them about every fourth or fifth time I go out, and I only have ever seen two or three at a time. I have only seen them near the end of Meadowheath and in the smaller creek near there. I think Incas are our most attractive dove. Their feathers create a grayish and delicate scaled appearance and they have long pointed tails. When they fly, burnt orange-brown patches (a color know in the bird world as rufous) are visible under their wings. Their wings also make a very distinctive snapping or buzzing sound when they first take off. Originally an arid species, Inca Doves have also adapted to human settlements, probably because of the ease of finding water. They have expanded their range in the last 100 years, though less dramatically than White-winged Doves. Now they occur throughout most of Texas and the southwestern United States. Their diet and feeding habits are very similar to Mourning Doves.

Those of you with backyard bird feeders are doubtlessly hosts to many White-winged Doves. It's easy to discount such a common bird but keep in mind that this bird wasn't always so common. If they hadn't proven to be so adaptable, White-wings could have been extinct in Texas. Plus, they are a beautiful bird regardless of their prevalence. (Look at one through binoculars to see the amazing color in and around the eyes!) Keep an eye out for Mourning Doves among the White-wings, and for Incas too. All three can even be told apart by the different cooing sounds they make (which you can hear at the links below). Have fun learning our doves and as always, if you have questions or comments, or if you are interested in the neighborhood bird walk, email me!