SREL Reprint #1982

Observation of a White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) on the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina

Kurt A. Buhlmann, J. Whitfield Gibbons, and I. Lehr Brisbin, Jr.

University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802

Introduction: On 15 April 1994, an adult White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) was sighted at a bird feeder at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, located at the northern boundary of the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in Aiken County, South Carolina. At 1730 h, while observing birds that were congregating at the feeder, we noticed a large dove sitting quietly in the foliage nearby. We were able to clearly see white wing-bars and a blue stripe that extended from the bill and encircled the eye. We used Peterson (1980) to confirm our identification. The bird remained in that position for 15 minutes after which it flew away and was not seen again until the next morning. At approximately 0930 h on 16 April it spent several minutes at a bird bath at the same location. Our observations illustrate the value that bird feeders can serve towards obtaining species distributional information.

SREL Reprint #1982

Buhlmann, K.A., J.W. Gibbons, and I.L. Brisbin, Jr. 1995. Observations of a White-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica) on the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. The Chat 59:95-96.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).