White-winged Dove at Argyle in Lafayette County Wisconsin on July 17, 2016

I decided to try for the rare White-winged Dove that was reported a while back, late June in Lafayette County. With some complied information I tried my luck and the bird was found. The location of this bird was not revealed at the time because of the location. With recent updates I have received, the bird has not been seen for some time now. The bird had been hanging around this location, the town of Argyle for a couple of weeks at the time and I had been serious about getting this bird on my life list. I headed out early in the morning back on the 17th of July just as some storms were passing through the area but great weather was on the horizon. As I pulled up at the reported location, still inside the car, I heard the unique call of the White-winged Dove. I got out of the car and within a minute or so I spotted the bird high up in a deciduous tree. With a pretty good looks, at that time I confirmed the life bird. After a minute or so it flew to a very high spruce tree, from tall spruce tree to tall spruce tree it flew in couple block radius, seemed to be making the rounds. The bird did a lot of horizontal gliding when it flew so it was difficult to get a lot of the white winged action photographed of this bird. The bird also called often from each tree it went to so when I did lose it a couple times, it did not take long to re-locate it. After awhile it did leave the area and so did I. A great day birding with nice temperatures and some sun. Images were taken on July 17, 2016. The normal range for this bird is southern parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Many thanks to the finder of this bird and information provided.

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White-winged Dove

Binomial name: Zenaida asiatica

Category: Pigeons and Doves

Size: 11.5” long, 19” wing span

Weight: 5 oz

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Preening

Preening

The bill

The bill

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This bird did a lot of tree-top to tree-top flying in the very small town of Argyle

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The White-winged Dove typically hung out on tall spruce trees in the small town of Argyle

!st view of the White-winged Dove high up in a deciduous tree after arriving to the area

After getting out of the car and locating the bird by the call, this was the 1st view of the White-winged Dove high up in a deciduous tree

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About admin

Window to Wildlife features the photography of Jim Edlhuber. A lifelong native of Wisconsin, Jim has been photographing wildlife for 20 years. He considers himself an avid photographer and is always trying to capture nature and wildlife through his lens. He is in several photography clubs and has won numerous awards for his work. In recent years, Jim has focused mostly on birding photography and finds it to be the most challenging.

4 Responses to White-winged Dove at Argyle in Lafayette County Wisconsin on July 17, 2016

  1. Edward Means says:

    Great story. Always nice to add another bird to your life’s list. Thanks for sharing

    What a lucky break that it was so easily located and also kept you informed with where he was as he flew from tree to tree voicing himself with his unique call.

    Cheers

  2. Annie says:

    Gee Jim, sometimes when I see updated posts from you I can’t help but think of “The Big Year” movie with you in the lead….thanks so much for finding this gem and sharing with all.

  3. Kathi and Michael Rock says:

    Wow, Jim, what a find and wonderful photos. Congratulations on adding this bird to your list! Given its range and preferred habitat (desert scrub), I can’t believe this bird is way up here in Wisconsin. The call is so unusual too. Great work!!

  4. Kurt says:

    Great images, as always. Hard to believe you captured this bird and others in flight with a hand-held 400mm. You implied that the sun was intermittent. What was your shutter speed for the flight shots? I can’t effectively hand-hold at 1/500. Getting shaky as I get older.

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