Merlin
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White-tipped Dove Identification

White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

Pale, pot-bellied dove with a fairly short, square-tipped tail. Brown wings with grayish pink neck and frosty gray face and underparts.

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryGuárico, November 26, 2010
White-tipped Dove Adult (brasiliensis group)
Adult (brasiliensis group)

Birds across much of South America belong to the brasiliensis group, but look very similar to the White-tipped form.

© Roberto Dall Agnol | Macaulay LibrarySão Paulo, February 23, 2016
White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

White tips to the outer tail feathers can be hard to see except when the bird fans its tail or flies.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryApril 01, 1998
White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

Chunky dove often found on the ground. Note plain brown wings and grayish-pink breast grading into frosty belly.

© Brian SullivanJune 21, 2004
White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

Tail has blackish corners with white tips that are visible when fanned.

© Carlton Collier | Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 23, 2014
White-tipped Dove Adults (White-tipped)
Adults (White-tipped)

Note pale, unmarked face and underparts with neck and breast that can appear buffy, grayish, or pinkish, and has a green iridescence at close range. White tail corners can be difficult to see except in flight.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 03, 1997
White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

Brown-backed dove with red legs, often found on the ground. Face and neck are unmarked.

© Dick Dionne | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 27, 2010
White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

Chunky dove with short, square-tipped tail. Note brown wings, gray-pink head, and red legs.

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryGuárico, December 24, 2012
White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

Usually forages on the ground in open forest or woodland understory; eats mostly seeds as well as some insects and berries.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryTexas, March 03, 1997
White-tipped Dove Adult (White-tipped)
Adult (White-tipped)

Very pale with pale tips to the tail when viewed from below. From above the brown wings give a darker overall impression.

© Tom Murray | Macaulay LibraryPuntarenas, March 15, 2015
White-tipped Dove Habitat
Habitat

Typically found on the ground in open woods, woodland edges, shrubby areas, and parks. In the United States, range is limited to South Texas.

© Jack Esworthy IV | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 20, 2016
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Adult Description

  • Medium-sized bird; large dove.
  • Small head.
  • Brown back.
  • Pale underparts.
  • Medium-long square tail, with white corners.

Immature Description

Juvenile has dark eyes, show some buffy scaling on upperparts, and lacks iridescence.
Relative Size

Relative Sizerobin sizedrobin-sized
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 9.8-12.2 in (25-31 cm)
    • Weight: 3.5-8.1 oz (99-230 g)

Species in This Family

Pigeons and Doves(Order: Columbiformes, Family:Columbidae)

Rock PigeonRock Pigeon
White-crowned PigeonWhite-crowned Pigeon
Band-tailed PigeonBand-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-DoveEurasian Collared-Dove
African Collared-DoveAfrican Collared-Dove
Inca DoveInca Dove
Common Ground-DoveCommon Ground-Dove
White-tipped DoveWhite-tipped Dove
White-winged DoveWhite-winged Dove
Mourning DoveMourning Dove

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