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White-winged Dove north of Smooth Rock Falls

AW
Angie Williams
Sat, May 22, 2021 10:04 PM

A White-winged Dove was observed today at 4:00 pm, about 18.5 km north of
Smooth Rock Falls along highway 634.

At about 4:00, I saw a bird fly up and perch in a tree on the west side of
the road. My first impression was not of a Mourning Dove. It seemed
heavier, chunkier, more like a duck or a Sharp-tailed Grouse in flight.
When it perched, it was clearly a Dove, shaped like a Mourning Dove, but
its beak looked bigger/heavier and it had white markings along the bottom
edges of its folded wings. It had a black comma shape behind its face. I
watched it for a minute or two, then it flew straight down the road for
about 20 m, and veered into the trees on the east side of the road. As it
flew, I could clearly see the white markings on its wings and the white
edges on a tail that was shorter and broader than that of a Mourning Dove.

I did not have a camera, and wasn't close enough to get a decent picture
with my phone.

If anyone goes looking for it, you should be aware that there is a bear in
the vicinity.

Smooth Rock Falls is located on highway 11, about 54 km northwest of
Cochrane, about 850 km from Toronto.

Angie Williams

A White-winged Dove was observed today at 4:00 pm, about 18.5 km north of Smooth Rock Falls along highway 634. At about 4:00, I saw a bird fly up and perch in a tree on the west side of the road. My first impression was not of a Mourning Dove. It seemed heavier, chunkier, more like a duck or a Sharp-tailed Grouse in flight. When it perched, it was clearly a Dove, shaped like a Mourning Dove, but its beak looked bigger/heavier and it had white markings along the bottom edges of its folded wings. It had a black comma shape behind its face. I watched it for a minute or two, then it flew straight down the road for about 20 m, and veered into the trees on the east side of the road. As it flew, I could clearly see the white markings on its wings and the white edges on a tail that was shorter and broader than that of a Mourning Dove. I did not have a camera, and wasn't close enough to get a decent picture with my phone. If anyone goes looking for it, you should be aware that there is a bear in the vicinity. Smooth Rock Falls is located on highway 11, about 54 km northwest of Cochrane, about 850 km from Toronto. Angie Williams