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Zenaida Dove
Zenaida aurita
At a Glance
When Audubon explored Florida in the 1830s, he apparently found Zenaida Doves nesting on the Florida Keys. Today the species is only a very rare visitor to Florida from the islands of the Caribbean. Like its relatives, the Mourning and White-winged doves, it usually feeds on the ground in brushy or semi-open areas.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Pigeon-like Birds
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Forests and Woodlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Direct Flight
Range & Identification
Description
11-12" (28-30 cm). Very rare visitor to Florida. Very similar to Mourning Dove but with shorter, square-tipped tail. White trailing edge on inner part of wing is conspicuous in flight, and shows as white spot on wing when standing.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Robin
Wing Shape
Rounded, Short
Tail Shape
Rounded, Square-tipped
Songs and Calls
Very similar to Mourning dove, but faster and with the first note less modulated.
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