The white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica) is a medium-sized dove native to the warmer parts of the Americas. It is known for its distinctive white wing patches and mellow cooing vocalizations.
White-winged doves are highly vocal birds that utilize a variety of calls and sounds to communicate. The most commonly heard white-winged dove noise is a soft, melodious cooing that both sexes use to maintain contact and advertise for mates. However, white-winged doves have a diverse repertoire of sounds beyond just their namesake coos.
In this article, we will explore the various noises white-winged doves make, when and why they vocalize, and what their calls sound like. We will examine the differences between the coos, moans, whines, and alarm calls of these birds. Understanding dove vocalizations provides insight into their behavior and ecology.
Cooing
The quintessential sound of the white-winged dove is its gentle, mournful cooing. Both males and females coo, starting with low, hollow cooes that gradually increase in tempo and pitch. The cooing often accelerates into a rhythmic series of oo-oo-oo notes.
This cooing serves several purposes:
- Advertising for mates
- Revealing nest locations
- Defending territories
- Maintaining pair bonds
- Communicating with flocks
Cooing is most frequent during the breeding season when birds are pairing up and nesting. Unmated males will repetitively coo to attract females. Paired birds also regularly coo duets to strengthen their bond. Cooing tapering off is often a sign that eggs have been laid.
To human ears, the dove’s cooing evokes a peaceful, calming sensation. Their soft, mournful tones inspired common metaphors of love and loss. However, among doves, the coos convey meaningful information about readiness to breed.
What does a white-winged dove’s coo sound like?
Here is an audio clip of typical white-winged dove cooing:
Male and female coos are similar in pitch and timbre. Females may coo a bit less vigorously. The pace tends to start off slow and accelerate into a rhythmic series of hollow hooting notes.
Moans and Whines
In addition to cooing, white-winged doves express themselves with moans and whines. These sounds are lower-pitched and more growling than their coos.
Moans are drawn-out low-pitched calls sounding like “oooowwwrrr” or “uuuuhhhnnn”. Doves moan for many reasons:
- Advertising nest sites to mates
- Attracting mates
- Begging for food from parents
- Jostling for position at feeders
- General announcement of location
Whines are similar to moans but shorter and higher pitched. They sound like quick whining cries. Doves whine when pursuing mates and jostling for desired perching or nesting spots.
Here is an example of a white-winged dove moan:
And this is what a white-winged dove whine may sound like:
Alarm Calls
When alarmed or chased, white-winged doves will take rapid flight while vocalizing loudly. Their alarm call is a quick, sharp “kik-kik-kik” sound.
This call serves to:
- Alert other doves to danger
- Scare or distract predators
- Notify mates and offspring to take cover
Some common reasons white-winged doves sound alarm calls are:
- Predators like hawks or cats are spotted
- Doves startled by loud noises
- When fighting over nesting sites
Here is an example of a white-winged dove alarm call:
Non-Vocal Sounds
Like most birds, white-winged doves also make an array of bill-snapping, wing-fluttering, and feather-ruffling sounds. These are important non-vocal means of communication.
Some examples of dove non-vocal sounds:
- Bill clattering during fights
- Wing whirring upon take-off
- Wing flapping when jostling for position
- Feather rustling during preening
Though less distinctive than cooing, these sounds still convey vital information. The sounds of bill-snapping or wing-whirring can indicate aggression and signal retreat. The flutter of wings may draw attention to a tasty food source. Rustling feathers can reveal a bird’s location.
When Do White-winged Doves Vocalize?
White-winged doves vocalize more frequently at certain times based on their breeding cycle, flocking habits, and mood:
- Breeding Season – Cooing and whining peaks during courtship and nesting months to advertise territory and attract mates.
- Morning – Most vocal in early morning when establishing territories and foraging.
- Evening – Increased vocalizations around dusk to signal roosting sites.
- Flocking – Flocks vocalize to coordinate movements and foraging.
- Isolated – Lone doves will call more frequently to locate flocks.
- Distressed – Higher frequency of whines and alarm calls when threatened or separated from flock or mate.
Doves generally vocalize the most in the hours around dawn and dusk. Their calls are also much more prevalent during spring and summer breeding seasons compared to winter months.
Functions of White-winged Dove Vocalizations
By better understanding the context around why white-winged doves vocalize, we gain insight into their behavior. Some key functions dove calls serve are:
- Claiming territory – Cooing establishes nesting or foraging areas.
- Attracting mates – Persistent cooing by unmated males draws the attention of females.
- Strengthening bonds – Paired birds regularly coo and whine to maintain the pair bond.
- Begging – Young doves whine and moan to beg for food from parents.
- Announcing food – Frenzied whines and moans can indicate a big meal.
- Coordinating flocks – Vocalizations synchronize movements of flock members.
- Alarm – Sharp alarm calls alert others to danger.
Recognizing these vocalization patterns provides clues into the type of behavior white-winged doves are engaged in. Their diverse vocal repertoire supports communication, pair bonding, territoriality, and collective foraging.
Variation and Mimicry in White-winged Dove Calls
Not all white-winged doves sound the same. There can be noticeable variation in the speed, pitch, tone, and rhythm of their vocalizations. These differences arise from:
- Individual physiology – Body size, beak shape, and muscle coordination impact sound.
- Age and sex – Older males tend to produce lower, more vigorous coos.
- Regional dialects – Neighboring birds share calls styles.
- Mimicry – Some doves copy other species’ sounds.
Mimicry is especially fascinating in doves. If they live alongside other birds like pigeons or mourning doves, white-winged doves may incorporate elements of those species’ calls into their own vocalizations.
These variations demonstrate vocal plasticity in doves. With learning and experience, they continue modifying their sounds well beyond the innate calls of their species.
Regional Dialects
Region | Characteristics |
---|---|
South Texas | Lower pitched coos in a “who-oo” pattern |
Florida | Faster paced cooing with a “hooo-ah” rhythm |
Mexico | Rolling whines mixed into cooing |
Caribbean | Louder, snarling moans |
This table demonstrates some of the subtle geographic differences in white-winged dove vocalizations across their range. Neighboring birds share vocal styles.
Mimicry of Other Species
White-winged doves demonstrate an impressive ability to mimic the sounds of other bird species. Some examples of mimicked birds include:
- Mourning doves
- Common pigeons
- Eurasian collared doves
- Inca doves
- Parrots
- Mockingbirds
- Blue jays
When living in close contact with these species, white-winged doves will incorporate elements of their vocalizations into their own calls. Hybrid coos, moans, and whines merge aspects of multiple species.
This ability likely develops through experience and learning. It demonstrates vocal flexibility and the ability to improvise new sounds.
Conclusion
In summary, white-winged doves have a diverse array of vocalizations they use to communicate and coordinate behavior. Their soft, cooing calls are most recognizable, but moans, whines, and alarm calls also carry meaning. The context and timing of these sounds give clues into their territorial, mating, and social behavior.
Across different habitats and flocks, white-winged dove sounds show intriguing variation as well. Through mimicry, they improvise new calls combining the influences of other species. Their voices reveal a complex language we are still striving to fully comprehend.
The next time you hear a white-winged dove’s melodious coo, listen more closely. Appreciate the deeper meaning in their sounds and what they reveal about the secret lives of these vocal birds.