As far as I know, there are six different dove species in South Texas. I've seen five of them. I do keep on the look-out for the sixth, but guess they're a bit scarce. At least in my area. One species, the white-tipped dove is also elusive and very few seen, so it's a special day to find one and even get the opportunity [in my neck of the woods] to photograph them.
So, I'm gonna share nothing but doves this week!
I see these quite frequently on our birding days. The Eurasian Collared Dove.
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
photos taken: Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map: Collared Dove
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE
photos taken: Paradise Pond - Port Aransas, Texas
habitat map: Collared Dove
This particular dove is quite small. And most always seen in pairs. Rarely do I see one without the other sex. They seem to be a very devoted dove that remains ever-faithful to its spouse. The Inca Dove.
INCA DOVE
photos taken: Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas
habitat map: Inca Dove
INCA DOVE
photos taken: Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas
habitat map: Inca Dove
This dove, a favorite of all for me because of its melancholy, beautiful song, is a bit elusive also. By elusive I mean the population is quite small here in my area. The Mourning Dove.
MOURNING DOVE
photos taken: Oso Bay Wetlands - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map: Mourning Dove
MOURNING DOVE
photos taken: Oso Bay Wetlands - Corpus Christi, Texas
habitat map: Mourning Dove
This dove, very pretty with it's very light head and breast is named so because of the very small white tip on its tail feathers. I love the deep rose, iridescent eye 'ring'. Most always found in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, this one in particular was spotted just north/west of Corpus Christi. The White Tipped Dove [aka in some older guide books The White Fronted Dove].
WHITE TIPPED DOVE
photos taken: Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas
habitat map: White Tipped Dove
WHITE TIPPED DOVE
photos taken: Bazemore Park - Calallen, Texas
habitat map: White Tipped Dove
The one that is most common, in and around what seems to be EVERYWHERE in the Coastal Bend of Texas, is the White Winged Dove. The male of the species is extremely pretty during breeding season with the taupe/brown body and very bright pink legs/feet. And not to mention the blue eye ring gets a darker shade.
Books and online sites state there are EIGHT doves in the state of Texas. Yet, when you read the list, included are PIGEONS. Tho related to each other, pigeons, to me, are NOT doves!!! So, the sixth dove, not yet photographed or spotted by me, is the common ground dove. So far, for the two of us, it's not been 'common'. I read others that bird in our area who said they've seen them...but alas, moi? Nope, nada!! Assuredly, I'll keep searchin'.
habitat map for Common Ground DoveNow, share your birding experiences:
or use text linking only copy text in lavender text area below and paste into your blog post:
Hi Anni I have never seen an Inca Dave. They are beautifully marked. Have a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed. Thanks Margaret...have a great weekend yourself!!
Deletei've not seen the white-tipped but have been glad to see inca and white-winged (those are still rare here). the mourning and eurasian collared are quite common now. :)
ReplyDeleteI've sen quite a few when we're down towards Brownsville, but this one just a few miles northwest of us, was a good surprise.
DeleteI agree, that Inca Dove looks superb. So well camouflaged that it must be difficult to spot under certain conditions.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't have enough Collared Doves there are plenty here you can have some of ours.
Thanks for the birding party Anni.
At some times during the year, they're more 'gray' than brown like they show in these photos. Might be the early morning light too. Who knows.
DeleteIn South Florida we do have lots of Eurasian Collard-Doves and White-winged Doves, and your "missing" Common Ground-Dove. I still have noever gotten a good look at the White-crowned Pigeon (oops, not a "dove" although the Rock "Dove" enjoyed that undeserved honor until the error was corrected). On the Keys the quail-dove would be a very elusive find. I love that Inca Dove.
ReplyDeleteI will have to get my guide books out and look up this Quail Dove...not heard of them.
DeleteWhat a lovely bird this Inca Dove is. Beautiful series of dove photos Anni.
ReplyDeleteThat, they are!!! And they're so very quiet. I don't think I've ever heard their 'song'. We have a lot of them in our yard during the year.
DeleteHello Anni, I did not know that in Texas you could see so many Dove species. Great collection of photos. The Inca would be a new one for me. Thanks for hosting, enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eileen.
DeleteMy husband calls them rats with wings. But I love their irridesent colors.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of squirrels being tree rats, but this is a new one to me. LOL
DeleteI guess I didn't realize there were so many different kinds. We have mourning doves that visit our feeders. We had 3 today when usually we only have a pair....maybe a young one along. Enjoy your weekend! Sweet hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane...I enjoyed your wood stork photos today!!
DeleteOh wow! I love the details in the feathers and that blue 'eyeshadow' is pretty cool too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruth
DeleteThese are neat shots! I love the eye on the last shot. That bird's eye is a bulls-eye!
ReplyDeletePlease stop by http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/08/bennett-place-bit-of-history.html to see some more great photos and join us each week for the Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) photo link-up!
Thanks...but I don't do too many memes anymore Sue.
DeleteLovely collection of Doves, my favourite is the Inca Dove, special.
ReplyDelete...thanks Bob
DeleteDe-dovely captures. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete...now that is a CUTE play on words Doug.
DeleteI'll trade you ten ground doves for one white tipped (the last one). Beautiful ... I've never heard of it even. We do have mourning doves and collared ones here and in Florida and those ground doves you can't find. But the others are new to me. Lovely and educational post ... Thanks for it and of course for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to add a photo of the Ground Dove to my 'collection'...send some my way in a trade. I can go for that. :-)
DeleteThey are all so pretty! The only doves I see around here are Mourning Doves. I do love hearing them. I think I'll go ahead and link my hawk picture to your post now!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to see you share your link Lois...thanks.
Deletethe first and the last I have seen. But not the others. I think doves are gorgeous birds :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting :)
I agree...and their songs are so pretty and soothing.
DeleteGreat post showing the different kinds of doves! I realize now from your shots that I have seen an Inca Dove here, but thought it was a Mourning Dove!
ReplyDeleteI actually believe the first time I ever saw an Inca Dove was in Tucson!!!
DeleteI just read your Good Reads review....fabulous!
I love your post idea here!!! Doves are amazing and as you pointed out, the WTDO is a tricky one to actually see out in the open. We don't have that one here although we keep looking:) Two doves that are here in Arizona are the Common Ground Doves and Ruddy Ground Doves. Mostly the RGDO show up in winter but there is an occasional stray. Very nice!
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful photos...that Inca dove sure is pretty. But then, all doves are to me. I did not know there were this many kinds of doves.
ReplyDeleteThe Collared Dove is a beautiful dove.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Him. In my garden just always get three ordinary turtles.
Beautiful pictures of this beautiful dove.
Beautiful Doves!
ReplyDeleteThe only dove I see here in north Mississippi is the Mourning Dove (though the bird book lists others for our area).
Horrors! The hunting season for doves starts today. We put extra food on the ground for them to hopefully keep them near the house where they will be safer than out in the fields.
Lea
Lea