White-Winged Dove: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Pigeons, Doves and Sparrows · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. The white-winged dove's call is often said to sound like someone asking "who cooks for you?"
2. Migrating groups are usually up to 4,000 birds, but one Texas flock was reported at up to a million.
3. In the desert, the white-winged dove can survive solely on the moisture in the fruit of the saguaro cactus.
4. When water is scarce, a white-winged dove may fly 40 km or more to find a drink.
5. In big colonies, white-winged doves pack 500 to 1 000 nests into each hectare.

The quiz

1. What English phrase has the white-winged dove's call been likened to?

• "Good morning to you"
• "Who cooks for you" (correct)
• "Where are you going"
• "Time for supper"

Its call has been likened to "who cooks for you".

2. How big was the largest recorded white-winged dove flock in Texas?

• About 4 000 birds
• About 50 birds
• Up to a million birds (correct)
• About 10 000 birds

Texas once recorded a flock of up to a million birds.

3. What can a desert white-winged dove survive on?

• The moisture in saguaro fruit (correct)
• Morning dew only
• Moisture in beetles
• Water stored in its crop for weeks

It can survive solely on the moisture in the fruit of the saguaro cactus.

4. How far may a white-winged dove fly to find water?

• 3 km
• About 1.6 km
• 400 km
• 40 km or more (correct)

It may fly 40 km or more to find water.

5. How many nests can big colonies pack into one hectare?

• Fewer than 10
• 500 to 1 000 (correct)
• About 50
• About 5 000

Colonies pack 500 to 1 000 nests into each hectare.

More about the White-Winged Dove

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries