Wildlife - Species
Species Specific Regulations
Doves - White-winged
Licenses: Hunting License required. Migratory Bird Hunting and Seasons set annually. Daily aggregate bag limit for mourning doves and white-winged doves is 15.
Limits: Please see Migratory Bird Regulations for any game zones restrictions or Limitations.
White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
Description
- Sexes similar
- Adult similar to juvenile
- Large, chunky dove
- Fairly long, black bill
- Pale blue, teardrop-shaped orbital ring to eye
- Pale gray-brown head, neck, back, belly and upperwings, with darker brown primaries
- Long dark mark on lower face below eye
- Purplish iridescence on neck
- Bold white wing patch, visible at rest, formed by pale secondary coverts
- Long tail is slightly rounded at tip
- Dark brown tail with white corners bordered above by black line
Average Size
Length: 10.5 inches; approximate weight is between 4 to 6 ounces.
Preferred Habitat
Their range is Southwest United States, Texas, Gulf Coast States to Florida – uncommon visitor to South Carolina. Feeds on grass seed and waste grain.
Publications and Literature
Attracting Doves Legally. (Adobe PDF) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Columbia, South Carolina
Doves of South Carolina - Identification and Status. (Adobe PDF) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina Dove Hunting Guide. (Adobe PDF) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division. Columbia, South Carolina
Some of the files above are provided in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open these files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.
Billy Dukes - Small Game Project Supervisor
SCDNR
P.O. Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202
Phone: (803) 734-3886
Fax: (803) 734-6020
E-mail: dukesb@dnr.sc.gov