ARLINGTON, TEXAS — As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been relatively certain that there are White-winged Doves on Arkansas Lane. It’s not that they’re hard to ID, of course, but I’m always driving, and the only doves I can seem to get good looks at are Mourning Doves and Rock Pigeons.

But today, I saw a bird in flight, and this time it was clear as day. I hadn’t been imagining things all this time.

I haven’t seen white-wings anywhere else around — my apartment, other streets, farther east — and I thought surely this must be pushing the northern edge of their range.

So I cracked open Sibley once I got home, and sure enough, they aren’t “supposed” to be here, especially in winter. I know that they are expanding their range and that range maps are to be taken with a grain of salt — sometimes. But still, I was curious.

A quick search on Texbirds confirmed that white-wings spread to the Metroplex several years ago and that they are now seen in Arlington, even in January.

Not that the winter is hard on them, mind you. Today had the warm, damp feel of spring, and I left my window open far into the evening, until the seductive breeze had gotten colder and the sickening stench of a cigarette wafted up from somewhere below.

Trackback This Post | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed