f 
140 . : ; tee Vol. XXII 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE HABITS OF THE WHITE-WINGED DOVE 
By ALEXANDER WETMORE 
HE OBSERVATIONS on. which the following notes on the habits of the 
White-winged Dove (Melopelia asiatica mearnsi Ridgway) are based were 
made in the main along the Gila River in Maricopa County, Arizona, near 
the small settlement of Arlington. Field work in this region was carried on con- 
tinuously from June 3 to 17, 1919, in the interests of the Biological Survey, U. 
S. Department of Agriculture. The tract under irrigation from the Gila at Ar- 
lington is comparatively narrow and there are still extensive growths of mesquite 
and other similar shrubs in the lowlands that as yet have not been cleared away. 
Small groves of cottonwoods and willows border the river, and there are extensive 
alkaline areas adjoining them where the ground may be marshy or swampy in 
character. On either side is the desert where mesquites and palo verdes grow in 
the dry washes and the creosote bush covers the open flats. Chollas are abundant 
and the giant cactus is common. To the eastward near the settlements of Palo 
Verde and Buckeye the irrigated lands are broader in extent and the country is 
more thickly settled. 
The interesting habits of the White-winged Dove have been described in con- 
siderable detail by Bendire (Life Histories of North American Birds, 1892, pp. 
145-148) and by Gilman (Condor, 1911, pp. 52-54), while scattered notes have 
been published by others. It is believed that the present observations include 
facts that have been previously unknown, although there is much that still re- 
mains to be learned concerning this species. 
The White-winged Dove is known familiarly to ranchers in this region as 
White-wing, Sonora Dove or Mexican Dove, the last two of these appellations 
arising from the migratory habit of, these birds that was believed to carry them 
into Mexico. White-wings were reputed to come to Arlington between April 20 
and May 1 each year, and to be present in full force by May 20. On my arrival 
in June I found them breeding in pairs scattered through the cultivated lands or 
the open desert, or congregated in large colonies in suitable mesquite montes near 
the Gila River. One or two pairs were found at intervals in cottonwoods beside 
roads or near ranch houses, but the greatest interest centered in the large congre- 
gations to be found in suitable tracts of mesquites. These rookeries were often 
of considerable extent. One located three and one-half miles south of Arlington 
extended over an area a quarter of a mile square, while another three miles be- 
yond occupied a grove nearly half a mile wide and an equal distance in length. 
The birds maintained regular flights across country and gathered in flocks to 
feed, so that they were conspicuous figures in the bird life of the region. It was 
difficult to estimate the number present, as they were scattered about in dense 
groves of mesquites, but it was believed that there were at least two thousand 
pairs in the largest colony examined. The total number present in the area was 
large. It appeared that the period for breeding among these birds was some- 
what irregular. A part of them evidently began to nest soon after their arrival, — 
as a number that were feeding young were observed on June 6. Others were nest- 
building on June 17, so that the entire period of reproduction was somewhat pro- 
longed. In the colonies nests were scattered about irregularly through the mes- 
quites. Sometimes two or three nests were placed in the same tree, or again one 
